Richman Appointed
Associate Dean for
Academic Affairs
Dr. M. Susan Richman was named the
associate dean for academic affairs for
Penn State Capital College on Oct. 20.
Richman has been in that position on an
interim basis since the beginning of the
year. As associate dean for academic
affairs, she will be responsible for the day
to-day operations of the college’s academ
ic programs at both the Harrisburg and
Schuylkill campuses.
Interim Provost and Dean Dr. John L.
Leathers remarked in in The (Harrisburg)
Patriot-News about Richman’s appoint
ment: “I am very pleased that she is will
ing to play such a vital role in the contin
ued growth and development of the
Capital College.”
Richman joined Penn State Harrisburg
in 1968. Prior to becoming the interim
associate dean for academic affairs, she
was an associate professor of mathematics
and computer science.
She received her bachelor’s degree in
mathematics from the University of
California at Berekely. She earned her
doctorate from the University of Aberdeen
in Scotland.
Fall Blood Drive
do their part
by donating blood on
Oct. 28 in the Gallery
Lounge during the
annual Fall Blood
Drive.
Erickson Speaks with Students
Dr. Rodney Erickson, University Vice
President and Provost, spoke to students
on Oct. 21 in the Olmsted Auditorium.
Erickson’s visit to the Penn State
Harrisburg campus was one of several
stops he was making to “keep an ear to the
ground” to hear students’ needs and con
cerns at all branch campuses.
Less than a dozen students made use of
the opportunity to speak with Erickson.
One issue raised was the need to unify
the program requirements at the branch
campuses with those at University Park.
Erickson stressed that progress is being
made to ensure lower division students
freshmen and sophomores will have
unilateral class credits so that if they
choose to transfer to any other campus
they won’t lose credits.
Erickson said, however, that at the
upper division level - juniors and seniors
there should be more flexibility in
course credits to utilize the resources
available at each campus.
Another concern raised was the feeling
that some faculty members are not acces
sible to students, even during posted office
By Matthew McKeown
Capita! Times Editor
Photo by Matthew McKeown
Photo by Matthew McKeown
The complaint was that professors’
doors are closed which sends a message
that professors are not intertested in meet
ing with their students.
Erickson noted that seeing closed doors
is “more likely now than it was 20 years
ago.” However, Erickson said that stu
dents have the ability to change that trend.
Erickson said, “I strongly encourage
you to give as much feedback to the facul
ty senate as you can. You need to have
your voice heard.”
Erickson continued by adding that stu
dents can have their voices heard if they
take the time to complete the SRTE’s that
are given for each course. The SRTE’s are
the course evaluation forms that have a
standard fill-in-the bubble sheet and often
contains a free response sheet.
Erickson said, “I find most students
don’t take the time to write anything. The
written comments are more important than
the scanned sheets.”
Student Government Association
President Roderick Lee raised the issue of
book vouchers. The bursar’s office has
stopped issuing vouchers for students to
use to purchase books until their aid is
received.
Lee said students now have to wait until
the aid is received before being able to
purchase their textbooks, but the semester
is half over until the aid is received.
Erickson said he wasn’t aware of the
voucher situation but said he would look
into it.
A man must have a
certain amount of intelli-
gent ignorance to get
- Charles F. Kettering
Everywhere, we learn
instant recall.
anywhere.
only from those
whom we love
- Goethe