Shared Mission, Vision, Values, and Student Learning Outcomes

University Vision

ESU will be an innovative and entrepreneurial university—educationally, socially, organizationally, and culturally—with an emphasis on quality and collaboration in everything we provide. As a scholarly community, its faculty, students, staff, administrators, and affiliates will be encouraged to be innovative and to explore opportunities that will constantly energize and improve its mission as a learning community of the 21st Century. As a "university without walls," its sense of community will extend well beyond campus boundaries to embrace ESU’s surrounding communities and region to become a model that other organizations will want to emulate.

University Mission

 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania will provide:

• Challenging and contemporary undergraduate and graduate curricula that engage and equip students to critically appraise and apply knowledge in their lives and chosen fields of study.
• A scholarly community that promotes diversity and views teaching as the university’s primary focus.
• Varied opportunities for student and faculty research, creative endeavors and involvement in public service.
• Leadership and service in the educational, cultural and economic development of the region.  

 

University Goals

• Achieve Higher Satisfaction, retention and graduation rates in order to increase student success at ESU.
• Build/create a strong sense of community by understanding and living ESU’s mission and values and by building a commitment to our local community and region.
• Develop a reputation for innovation and entrepreneurship by creating a curious, inventive and risk-taking culture.
• Through the work of innovative faculty, help to develop a culture of research and scholarship while rethinking the preparation of successful graduates.

University Values

We are committed to the principles of intellectual integrity, freedom of expression, the fair and equal treatment of all, good citizenship, environmental stewardship, and accountability for our actions and the resources entrusted to us.

Purposes and Scope

In pursuit of its mission and vision, East Stroudsburg University seeks to adhere to the following principles in both the development of its strategic plan and its ongoing decision-making processes. Used in conjunction with the values outlined above, ESU is committed to:

• Providing quality, affordable academic programs as well as opportunities for lifelong learning, always focusing on student success.
• Sustaining an intellectually challenging environment that identifies and enhances its students’ and the university community members’ talents.
• Creating opportunities for innovation that focus on high impact teaching and learning both inside, and outside, of the classroom.
• Identifying, recruiting, and retaining students representing a multicultural world who by background, motivation, and commitment can benefit from higher education.
• Attracting and retaining a diverse, recognized, and credentialed faculty committed to excellence in teaching and continuing scholarship.
• Attracting and retaining exemplary faculty, staff members, and administrators who accept responsibility and accountability for the personal, professional, educational, and social values espoused by the University.
• Providing leadership, expertise, and service to its local, regional, and global societies.
• Encouraging opportunities for the university community to develop positive, healthy, and holistic lifestyles.
• Serving as a source of cultural and intellectual programs of importance to students and residents of the region.
• Building and maintaining partnerships to enhance opportunities for students, alumni, and the university community.

The Way of the Warrior

A Warrior is:

• A Champion of Social Justice
• Committed to Self Growth
• Willing to Sacrifice for the Greater Good
• Positive, Honest, and Loyal
• Respectful of the Environment and Community
• Dedicated to Empowering Others
• Accountable for One's Actions

Graduate & Extended Studies

Graduate & Extended Studies embraces the University’s vision, mission, and values, and consistent with those, defines its particular vision, mission, and values as follows:

Mission

The mission of Graduate & Extended Studies at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is to advance graduate education in order to develop leaders in their fields who enhance the lives of individuals in our state and nation, as well as globally.

Vision

The vision of Graduate & Extended Studies at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is to be recognized and respected throughout Pennsylvania, as well as nationally and internationally, for first rate graduate degree and certification programs in education, health sciences, the arts and sciences, and business and management.

Values

Graduate & Extended Studies at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is committed to the following underlying principles in all that we do:

• Excellence
• Innovation
• Leadership
• Critical Thinking
• Integrity

History of the University

East Stroudsburg University, a comprehensive university in northeastern Pennsylvania offering 58 undergraduate, 21 graduate degree programs, and 2 doctoral programs is one of the 14 institutions in Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education.

It opened its doors on September 4, 1893, as East Stroudsburg Normal School. A faculty of 15 greeted a group of 320 students who entered two-year programs in elementary and science education.

Although the Normal School was originally privately owned, ownership was transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1920, and the name was changed to East Stroudsburg State Normal School.

In 1927, the right to confer the degrees of Bachelor of Science in education and Bachelor of Science in health education was granted, and the school became the State Teachers College at East Stroudsburg.

In 1960, the name was changed to East Stroudsburg State College, reflecting the addition of liberal arts and science curricula.

In November 1982, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education was authorized by Act 188 of 1982, and the college officially became East Stroudsburg University on July 1, 1983.

History of Graduate Studies

East Stroudsburg University inaugurated Graduate Studies in 1962 with three Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs: Biological Sciences, General Science, and Health and Physical Education. In 1969, the first Master of Arts (M.A.) programs, in History and Political Science, were approved.

Over the years, graduate programs in a variety of fields, including a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) have been approved and offered. In 2001, ESU entered into a memorandum of understanding with Indiana University of Pennsylvania to offer the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Administration and Leadership Studies on campus. In 2004, three new Master of Science (M.S.) programs were added: Exercise Science, Management and Leadership, and Sport Management. Also in 2004, the M.S., Cardiac Rehabilitation was revised to the M.S., Clinical Exercise Physiology. In 2007, our first distance education graduate program, M.S., Athletic Training, was approved. More recently, the university was approved to offer an M.A. in Professional and New Media Writing, an M.A. in Communication, a new Organizational Behavior concentration within the M.S. in Management and Leadership program and an M.S. in Accounting in 2019.  In 2016, the university was approved to offer its first doctoral degree, an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration and in 2019, a second doctoral degree, a D.H.Sc. in Health Sciences was approved.

In its first graduating class of 1964, the university awarded 10 graduate degrees. Today, the University offers over 30 degree, certification preparation and certificate programs.

Location

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is nestled in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains. The combination of quiet woodlands, mountain streams, and refreshing clean air has made the Poconos famous as a resort area for more than 100 years.

Because of the university’s location in the Poconos, students take advantage of the many scenic, historic, and recreational sites, including the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Bushkill Falls, and the Pocono ski areas. Others have found that the resorts and restaurants offer an excellent opportunity for employment. In addition, the area offers fine restaurants, high-quality entertainment, and excellent shopping. Situated on a hill facing Prospect Street in the community of East Stroudsburg, the university is characterized by large areas of grassy expanses comfortably shaded by a variety of towering trees.

 

The campus is located approximately 75 miles west of New York City and Newark, 85 miles northeast of Philadelphia, 40 miles southeast of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area, and 40 miles northeast of the Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton area. Students and faculty alike enjoy the opportunities and advantages of visits to the metropolitan areas.

The university, which is located approximately one-quarter mile from the East Stroudsburg exit off Interstate 80, Exit 308, is within easy reach of major highway systems and commercial air services.

Accreditation

East Stroudsburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (1007 North Orange St – 4^th Floor, MB #166., Wilmington, DE, 19801.) The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Accreditations awarded to academic programs include:

• Teacher Education Programs
  Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
  Approved by: Pennsylvania Department of Education
• Athletic Training, B.S. and M.S.
  Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
• Biochemistry, B.S. and Chemistry, B.S.
  American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
  Certified by: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Clinical Exercise Physiology, M.S.
  Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Computer Science, B.S.
  Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc (ABET)
• Exercise Science, B.S. and M.S.
  Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, B.S.
  Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA)
• Nursing, B.S.
  Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
  Approved by: Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing
• Public Health, M.Ph.
  Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Social Work, B.S.
  Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Communication Sciences and Disorders, M.S.
  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
  Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology | Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)
  Approved by: Pennsylvania Department of Education
• Sport Management, B.S. and M.S.
  Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA)

 

Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education

East Stroudsburg University is a member of the Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) which is comprised of the Commonwealth's public universities with a combined enrollment of more than 100,000 making it the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth.

The universities combine to enroll the largest number of Pennsylvania residents among all four-year colleges and universities in the commonwealth. With 90,000 degree-seeking students and thousands more enrolled in certificate and other career-development programs, the State System is vital to Pennsylvania's economy.

The State System universities collectively offer more than 2,300 degree and certificate programs in more than 530 academic areas. The universities have nearly 800,000 living alumni, most of whom reside in Pennsylvania.

The State System universities are Bloomsburg, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, PennWest [California, Clarion and Edinboro], Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

East Stroudsburg University is committed to providing equal educational and employment rights to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran’s status. Each member of the university community has a right to study and work in an environment free from any form of racial, ethnic, and sexual discrimination including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and sexual assault. In order to meet this commitment and to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and guidance from the Office for Civil Rights, the University requires faculty members to report incidents of sexual misconduct shared by students to the University's Title IX Coordinator. The only exceptions to the faculty member's reporting obligation are when incidents of sexual misconduct are communicated by a student during a classroom discussion, in a writing assignment for a class, or as part of a University-approved research project. Faculty members are obligated to report sexual violence or any other abuse of a student who was, or is, a child (a person under 18 years of age) when the abuse allegedly occurred to the person designated in the University protection of minors policy.

Information regarding the reporting of sexual violence and the resources that are available to victims of sexual violence is set forth at: Title IX: Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence
[Direct Web Address: esu.edu/titleix]

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gives students certain rights with respect to their education record.

ESU students have the following rights:

• To inspect and review certain education records
• To request an amendment of their education record believed to be inaccurate or misleading
• To have control over the disclosure of education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The right to restrict access to information identified by the institution to be directory information available to the public without permission from the student.
• The right to extend third party access to education records to whomever is identified by the student in writing.

• To file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Directory Information Items Recognized by The University
Certain student information contained in the educational record is considered directory (public) information. Directory (public) information may be shared by the University. A student may request the University Registrar to prohibit the disclosure of any directory (public) information by completing a FERPA Restriction Form.

Directory Information includes:

Student's name
Official ESU e-mail address
Degree sought and time
Major, Minor, dates of attendance, enrollment status (full-time, part- time --including credit hours), class year
Dates of attendance
Awards, honors (including Dean’s List), degrees conferred including dates
Past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities
Physical factors (height and weight of student athletes)
Most Previous education agency or institution attended by the student
Fraternity and/or sorority and educational societies.

Annual Notification
Students are reminded of their FERPA rights annually while they are preparing to register for the fall semester. The Annual FERPA Notification will also be available in the University Catalog, Student Handbook and through other university-related publications.

FERPA Restrictions
If you wish to withhold the disclosure of directory information, please print, complete the FERPA Restriction form and submit to the Student Enrollment Center as soon as possible. An effective semester must be included. When this restriction is applied to your record, it also prevents your name from appearing on the dean’s list, graduation lists and other university-related publications. Please consider very carefully the consequences of any decision made by you to withhold your “Directory Information”. Any future requests from non-institutional persons or organizations will be refused should you decide to inform the university not to release the above items. ESU will honor your request but cannot assume responsibility to contact you for subsequent permission to release information.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify the university if restrictions are to be rescinded.

Questions about the Annual Notification or the FERPA Restriction form, should be directed to University Records & Registration at ferpa@esu.edu.

FERPA Release
Students can give permission for someone else to have access to their educational record. This is done only when the student completes the FERPA Disclosure form. This form can be found on the myESU Portal under the student tab

The Campus and Academic Buildings

The campus of East Stroudsburg University includes 63 buildings located on approximately 258 acres in East Stroudsburg Borough and Smithfield Township.

The majority of ESU’s facilities are located in East Stroudsburg, Pa.  These buildings include academic facilities, nine residence halls, a 1,000-seat dining hall, a student center, a 60,000 square-foot Recreation Center, athletic facilities, a library and more. 

• Abeloff Center for Performing Arts
  Auditorium | 800 Capacity
• J.H. & M.E. Beers Lecture Hall
  Lecture Hall | 140 Capacity
• DeNike Center for Human Services
  7 Classrooms | 2 Simulation Labs | 1 Computer Lab | 2 Seminar Rooms
  Academic Offices [Health Studies, Nursing, Recreation Services Management]
• The Fine and Performing Arts Center
  4 Classrooms | 1 Recital Hall | 2 Theatres | 5 Studios [Art/Dance]
  Academic Offices [Art + Design + Media, Theatre]
• Gessner Science Hall
  3 Classrooms | 1 Bloomsburg Lab | 1 Computer Lab
  Academic Offices [Business Management, Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism Management]

• Koehler Fieldhouse and Natatorium
  3 Classrooms | 5 Labs | 1 Wrestling Room | 1 Arena | 1 Pool
  Academic Offices [Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Intercollegiate Athletics]

• Monroe Hall
  4 Classrooms | 1 Lecture Hall | 2 Labs 
  Academic Departments [Communication Studies, Communication Sciences and Disorders]
• Moore Biology Building
  3 Classrooms | 1 Lecture Hall
  Academic Offices [Biological Sciences]
• Rosenkrans Hall
  3 Classrooms | 1 Computer Lab
  Academic Offices [Academic Success, Warrior Tutoring Center]
• Stroud Hall
  20+ Classrooms | 2 Computer Labs | 2 Lecture Halls
  Academic Offices [Early Childhood and Elementary Education, English, History and Geography, Modern Languages, Philosophy and Religion, Political Science and Economics, Professional and Secondary Education, Psychology, Reading, Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice, Special Education and Rehabilitation]
• Warren E. '55 and Sandra Hoeffner Science & Technology Center
  7 Classrooms | 1 Lecture Hall | 4 Computer Labs | 13 Labs | 1 Planetarium | 1 Wildlife Museum
  Academic Offices [Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics]
  
• Zimbar-Liljenstein Hall
  5 Classrooms | 1 Computer Lab | 1 Teaching Gymnasium
  Academic Offices [Physical Education Teacher Education, Sport Management]

The three suite-style housing facilities and one traditional residence hall.  In total, ESU provides its students with 3,248 beds in order to experience the on-campus lifestyle.  Nearby, on 46 acres of ESU’s property, resides University Ridge, a ten-building student apartment complex that provides an additional 541 beds to ESU students.

Two of the suite-style facilities house a separate university function; the University Police Station is housed on the ground floor of Hemlock Hall and a Health and Wellness Center for students on the ground floor of Sycamore Suites.  Residential Life and Housing is also located in the ground floor of Hemlock Suites. For the Lower Level of Sycamore Suites we also have Student Conduct and Community Standards and the Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator. 

Across campus, the Mattioli Student Recreation Center is a full-service fitness center featuring high end exercise equipment, an elevated running track, 4 basketball courts, racquetball courts and more for the exercise enthusiasts.

Located on Smith Street, Kemp Library provides ESU students, faculty, staff and visitors with materials, services, equipment, spaces, and environments that support the University’s academic curricula, assists campus constituents with their study, research, and informational needs, and stimulates cultural development.

Located in Smithfield Township, ESU’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, built in 2010, is located on the corner of Brown Street and Route 447. This 51,000 sq. ft. facility is a driver of economic development support for Monroe County and home to innovators and entrepreneurs whether they be students, faculty, staff or community members.  The Innovation Center includes ESU's Economic Development and Entrepreneurship Division, Business Accelerator Program, Office of Sponsored Projects and Research, Office of Workforce Development, Wet Lab Facilities, Entrepreneurial Leadership Center, ESU's Dr. Jane Huffman Wildlife Genetics Institute, and Computer Training Labs.

Less than 10 miles from campus, ESU affiliate, The Student Activity Association, Inc. owns Stony Acres, a 119-acre off-campus student recreation area near Marshalls Creek, which includes a lodge and a small lake. Considered a wildlife sanctuary, Stony Acres is a 119 acre facility in Marshalls Creek, Pa., that serves as a recreational site and field campus for students, faculty and staff.  While providing outdoor recreational activity and social opportunities, the site also promotes co-curricular involvement and fosters leadership development. 

Lastly, ESU opened an additional location in Bethlehem, Pa. (the Lehigh Valley Center) in 2012 and also partners with Northampton Community College in Bethlehem to provide convenient educational experiences for students in the fields of nursing, public health and business management.  ESU’s Lehigh Valley Center offers opportunities for the adult learner as well as the traditional undergraduate student.  The Center offers undergraduate degree completion, continuing education, non-degree programs, certificate programs and accelerated graduate degree opportunities.

Computing and Communication Services

The university Computing and Communications Center supports administrative computing, academic computing and telecommunications. Administrative computing is served by the Banner student information system, encompassing more than 30 online systems and providing services to the students, faculty and staff.

The academic computing network consists of 30 UNIX or Windows based servers that are connected to approximately 2,200 personal computers provided to support instruction, Internet access, campus network access, and email. They are located in 35 computer laboratories across campus. There is an open-access computer lab in each residence hall.

Additionally, many academic departments maintain discipline-specific computer laboratories for their curricula. Wireless computing zones are located throughout campus and outdoors. Students can connect to the Internet in these areas using a standard wireless device or smart phone. In addition, faculty and students use wireless for conducting specialized labs in a variety of courses. Helpful computing information can be found at esu.edu/ac.

Additionally, the Office of Computing and Communication Services supports faculty, administration, students, and affiliated businesses with services such as local and long distance telephone, voice mail, digital cable TV, and Internet.

The McGarry Communication Center is the campus base for the Instructional Resources Department, including the audiovisual, graphics, and television services units. The Communication Center houses two television studios and is the distribution center of campus cable television as well as the community-wide ESU television telecasts. WESS 90.3 FM radio is also located in the Center.

Kemp Library

Kemp Library provides all students, faculty and staff with numerous opportunities to acquire information in pursuit of their academic and career goals.  The library offers a wide variety of resources and services to help achieve these goals.  The collection includes not only physical items such as print books and journals, but also a large number of electronic resources, such as EBSCO databases, electronic journals and e-books.  The library strives to provide 24/7 access to electronic resources via the library website. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to take advantage of the library’s services including Inter-Library Loan, Reference and Research Assistance and to contact faculty librarians to schedule individualized instructional sessions or personal assistance.  The library also provides quiet spaces for study as well as comfortable areas for group discussions.  For more information about Kemp Library, visit the website - www.esu.edu/library.

Graduate & Extended Studies Office

The Graduate professional and support staff provide essential services for all graduate faculty and students at ESU, from application through program completion. The Graduate office also offers special academic opportunities for graduate students, including research and travel support.

The Graduate Advisory Council provides guidance and recommendations to the provost on policies and procedures for admission, assistantships, academic status, degree candidacy, and other matters related to graduate studies. Council membership includes the graduate coordinator from each academic department offering a graduate degree program. Graduate coordinators are appointed by the department chair. For a current list of graduate coordinators, contact the Graduate office at 570-422-3536.

All areas of graduate curricula, including the review and approval of new courses, programs, or methods of delivery are the role of the university curriculum process. Curriculum proposals are initiated by the academic departments for consideration by the University Wide Curriculum Committee (UWCC). Following approval by the committee, the Academic Council reviews all course and program proposals before recommending them to the provost, who acts on behalf of the president of the university for final curriculum approvals.

Each academic department identifies its graduate faculty according to established criteria. Faculty members hold high academic credentials and a long-standing commitment to teaching excellence; collectively, they are recipients of numerous grants and honors. ESU’s faculty are diverse and represent many prestigious institutions of higher education in the United States and internationally. The terminal degree is held by 88 percent of the instructional faculty.

The Graduate & Extended Studies office on the second floor of Reibman Administration Building, and can be contacted via telephone at 570-422-3536 or e-mail at grads@esu.edu.

The mailing address is:

Graduate & Extended Studies

East Stroudsburg University

200 Prospect St

East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

Alumni Engagement

The Office of Alumni Engagement, as part of the East Stroudsburg University Foundation, works to support and engage a network of more than 45,000 ESU alumni. Membership into the East Stroudsburg University Alumni Association is solidified the moment a graduate crosses the platform during commencement.

Located in the Henry A. Ahnert Jr. Alumni Center, the office plans multiple events throughout the year, including the All Alumni Annual Tailgate and other regional events to connect and engage alumni with each other and the university. The office also produces the Alumni Herald magazine (www.esualumni.org/herald), which is published twice per year and filled with information about classmates and alumni success stories.

The office looks to its network of alumni to show their support and commitment to ESU. Alumni and friends are encouraged to extend their support through the ESU Foundation Warrior Fund. Gifts to the Warrior Fund provide direct and immediate support to ESU and its programs. Gifts are used for student scholarships, enhancing academic and athletic programs and improving ESU’s technology infrastructure.

For more information about the office, the benefits of being a graduate of ESU, the Alumni Association, connecting with ESU alumni, or the ESU Foundation, visit www.esualumni.org.