Gannon COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts Uphold Campus Health
Gannon expanded its COVID-19 mitigation efforts by launching an on-campus vaccination clinic in February in partnership with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. As of May 1, about 1,300 students and employees were fully vaccinated. The University also continued its on-campus surveillance program, processing more than 25,550 COVID-19 samples from students and employees on its Erie and Ruskin campuses since June 2020 while actively tracing all associated close contacts of known positives in the Gannon population.
Ongoing daily health and temperature screenings, social distancing, mask wearing and other healthy behaviors upheld a culture of mutual care and support across campuses that has maintained a safe learning and working environment for the Gannon community this academic year.
Undercover Billionaire Returns to Erie, Gannon
“Undercover Billionaire” Glenn Stearns.
“Undercover Billionaire” Glenn Stearns returned to Erie to help local business owners turn their businesses around in just 27 days in a six-part series titled “Undercover Billionaire: Comeback City.” The Gannon Small Business Development Center’s former clients, including Tipsy Bean, Lake Erie Rubber and Manufacturing, and Dominick’s Diner LLC, were centerpieces of many of the episodes. The SBDC was also featured providing entrepreneurial resources to spotlighted business and former client, TKO-Erie.
Stearns was introduced to the Gannon community when he went undercover to launch a business venture with aid from the University’s entrepreneurial resources, an experience that was featured on Discovery’s “Undercover Billionaire.” He joined Gannon once more as the keynote speaker for the Spring 2020 Commencement. Due to canceled in-person commencement ceremonies, Stearns delivered a special message to the Class of 2020 graduates in a tribute to these newest alumni during a virtual event. Gannon awarded him with an honorary degree to recognize his contributions to the University and the Erie community.
WERG 90.5 Named Best College Station
Gannon University’s student-operated radio station, 90.5 WERG, received national accolades when it was named “Best College Station” for all colleges with enrollment under 10,000, during this year’s 81st Annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Conference. WERG also took home national titles in “Best Show Promo” for “Sonic Sunrise Morning Show,” produced by student Robert Fox; “Best Celebrity News Interview” for its October airing on “Super Soul Saturday” with alumnus Homer “Lee” Smith and the cast of Hamilton; and “Best Music Director” in recognition of student Amanda Drew.
Gannon Freezes Tuition Costs
The Gannon University Board of Trustees approved a 0% increase in tuition for the 2021-22 academic year. This is the first time in two decades this decision has been made and comes as an acknowledgment of the hardship faced this past year with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Head Coach Cleve Wright Earns 300th Career Win
Gannon Head Women's Basketball Coach Cleve Wright earned his 300th career coaching victory in a 55-43 win over Bluefield State this February. Wright has compiled a 306-194 overall record more than 16 seasons, including a 271-107 record during 13 seasons in two stints with Gannon. Wright just concluded his 13th season as the head coach at Gannon University and is the all-time winningest coach in program history.
Gannon Head Women's Basketball Coach Cleve Wright.
Gannon Alumnus Donation Established Orlando Biomedical Ethics and Catholic Social Teaching Endowment
Richard G. Orlando, M.D., F.A.C.S., ‘76 and his wife, Cynthia.
A $250,000 gift from alumnus Richard G. Orlando, M.D., F.A.C.S., ’76, and his wife, Cynthia, established the Orlando Biomedical Ethics and Catholic Social Teaching Endowment that supports learning and awareness across fields that promote ethical care and respect for the dignity of the human person. The endowment funds educational experiences to enrich current and future Gannon students’ understanding for ethical considerations related to the care for human life and prepares them to navigate complicated ethical issues. It will also establish an annual lecture series beginning in Fall 2021 in Erie and Winter 2020 in Ruskin to provide Gannon students and faculty, the public and health care leaders with opportunities for continuing their education.
Gannon to Welcome Chick-fil-A to its Erie Campus in Fall
Students enjoyed an end-of-semester picnic, complete with study snacks from Metz and Chick-fil-A
Gannon University students will soon have yet another dining option on the school’s Erie campus. A Chick-fil-A will be built on campus in the University’s Waldron Campus Center and is expected to open after the start of the Fall 2021 semester. It will be Gannon’s first national chain restaurant on campus and will enhance the variety of dining options available to students, which include a traditional dining hall, grab-and-go as well as made-to-order locations within academic buildings, along with its University-owned restaurant and cafe´.
An Update from the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee
Gannon formed a Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee in Fall 2020 that focuses on long-term institutional planning and immediate engagement opportunities for Gannon community members. The Steering Committee established priorities for 2021 that include developing a communication plan; creating a resource hub that includes tools around topics like self-awareness building; incorporation of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts into human resources recruitment, orientation and other related areas; and development of position proposals and a financial plan for long-term sustainment of these efforts at Gannon. Committee co-chairs also met bi-weekly with an associated JEDI Student Advisory Committee to communicate updates, listen to and obtain student feedback, and facilitate student involvement. The Steering Committee will continue to plan and implement efforts to embed its vital mission into the institutional culture at Gannon.