- Are the best and the brightest students the ones who can outscore the competition on standardized tests? Or are there better ways of measuring ability and predicting success? Mercyhurst University believes the latter and has joined a growing number of colleges and universities that have elected to omit standardized test scores as a requirement of admission. Mercyhurst was the frst univ ersity in the Erie area to adopt a “test optional” admissions policy. Christian Beyer, director of undergraduate admissions, said the more than 850 colleges and universities that have de emphasized standardized tests have done so for a variety of reasons, but all have expressed concern about the impact of overreliance on the tests. - ‘HURST FIRST IN REGION TO ADOPT ‘TEST-OPTIONAL’ POLICY - “Like our contemporaries, we only expect a small number of applicants to use the test optional policy,” Beyer said. “Students submitting test scores should know that we will continue to value and reward them for their academic performance on the SAT and ACT.” Exclusions to the new policy include student athletes, who must submit scores in compliance with NCAA’s policy for evaluating athletic eligibility. Standardized tests are tools rather than ends in themselves and, he said, play a small role in identifying how successful applicants will later perform as college students. Beyer said Mercyhurst will continue to emphasize academic performance in high school, including GPA and class rank; character traits like persistence and resilience; talent; leadership ability and extracurricular and community engagement. “This is by no means a relaxing of standards,” he added.
NEW MEDIA CENTER HONORS INDUSTRY PIONEER MYRON JONES Mercyhurst honored broadcast industry pioneer and Mercyhurst Trustee Emeritus Myron Jones in October when it dedicated its new Center for Media Convergence in his honor. The facility in the Audrey Hirt Academic Center is fv e years in the making and includes a multimedia center that combines The Merciad student newspaper and Laker TV into one space, a conference room, a new lounge in the lower-level lobby and a renovated graphic design studio. Using the most up-to-date equipment in the feld , the area has been designed to facilitate collaborative work among students in Communication, Integrated Marketing Communication and Graphic Design. “This will build an environment where print meets video meets web – a key characteristic of media conglomerates of today,” said Communication Department Chair Meghan Waskiewicz. Jones’ broadcasting career began as an engineer with radio station WERC in Erie more than 70 years ago. He went on to WFMJ in Youngstown, his hometown, but came back a few years later to launch WJET Radio 1400 in Erie and then another daytime station, WHOT, in Youngstown. In 1959, he bought WEEP in Pittsburgh, quickly improving the facility to become Pittsburgh’s second 50kw AM station. In his spare time, he built FM stations to accompany WEEP in Pittsburgh and WHOT in Youngstown. Using this experience, in 1987, he masterminded the conversion of WJET-AM into WJET-FM. In 1966, he launched Erie’s frst c olor television station, WJET-TV. JET was the frst sta tion in Erie to use videotape to gather news.
FUNDING RENEWED FOR CARPE DIEM ACADEMY More than 200 students of Erie’s Public Schools will continue to get a boost in academic and physical wellness from Mercyhurst University’s Carpe Diem Academy, thanks to a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Mercyhurst’s $1.2 million 21st Century Community Learning Center grant request to fund the program for the next three years was approved by PDE, which will provide the frst y ear’s funding of $399,000. “We at Mercyhurst are gratifed t o receive this grant because it af ords us the opportunity to continue improving the lives of young school children in our community,” said Leanne M. Roberts, Ph.D., associate dean of the Hafenmaier School of Education & Behavioral Sciences and chair of the education department.
The Carpe Diem Academy, open to students in kindergarten, frst and second grades in the Erie school district,
is an extended learning opportunity of ering instructional support in math and reading, as well as arts experiences, such as music and dance, and health and wellness activities. New this year is science enrichment. Students in the academy receive a healthy snack and dinner. The snack,
typically fresh fruit or vegetable and yogurt, is donated by Wegmans grocery. The academy operates on site at participating schools four days a week from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Amy Bauschard directs the Carpe Diem Academy, and graduate and undergraduate students in Mercyhurst’s education department staf the academy, providing great opportunities for classroom experience.
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