Blog

Dr. Brian Okey, associate professor in Indiana University of Pennsylvania, tests water near Beaver Run Reservoir. Photo courtesy of Brian Okey.

Last summer, APSCUF went behind the scenes to show how faculty members and coaches continue to devote themselves to affordable, quality education even when class is not in session. This post is a continuation of that series.

As an associate professor in Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s department of geography and regional planning, Dr. Brian Okey spends much of his time outside the classroom.

“My emphasis has always been on environmental issues, more specifically, resource issues,” Okey said.

When concerns began to rise about the negative effects Marcellus Shale gas-well drilling might have on the water supply of Beaver Run Reservoir, Okey got involved.

Okey and colleague Nate McElroy began collaborating with the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County on the Beaver Run Project in 2011. The project monitors the quality of water around Beaver Run Reservoir, a source of water for around 130,000 people.

The project employs roughly half a dozen students — undergraduate and graduate — each year.

“The project feeds into classroom teaching, while providing employment and practical experience for students,” Okey said.

The team of faculty and students goes out to the sites quarterly to sample the water. This is done usually throughout three days, typically on weekends to accommodate everyone’s schedule. A normal day of sampling takes between four to six hours, Okey said.

“There is a lot of rigorous hiking throughout the trails to get to the site,” he said. “It’s very physically demanding.”

Aside from the hours onsite, the project requires upkeep on the field data and equipment. Okey and his students work with geographic systems to maintain maps and other information.

Students also have an opportunity to gain experience abroad. Okey and colleague Sudeshna Ghosh developed courses with the department of architecture and regional planning at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, to bring students to India to collect field data. This past June, the team gathered information about the water quality in the wetlands east of Kolkata. This region is a vital source of fish and vegetables for the citizens, Okey said.

Okey is also part of a nonprofit group called the Altman Watershed Association for Restoring the Environment, of which he is the former president. The group works to protect streams from coal mining, is constructing a rail trail, and it participates in an annual trash cleanup.

This outside work can be translated back to the classroom learning experience for the students, Okey said.

—Lindsey Newton, APSCUF intern

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education this morning named Clarion University of Pennsylvania President Karen M. Whitney its interim chancellor. Click here to read APSCUF President Dr. Kenneth M. Mash’s statement.

West Chester University baseball coach Jad Prachniak, right, said he is thankful for the opportunity to be a member of APSCUF.
Photo courtesy of West Chester University

How do you win NCAA Division II national championships twice in six seasons?

Coach Jad Prachniak would be someone to ask: He led West Chester University’s baseball team to this accomplishment in June.

Consistency was key, and the team focused on one day at a time, Prachniak said.

“We just have to play better than the other team on that day,” he said.

In 2012, Prachniak coached his team to win the national championship, a special first season for him with the West Chester Golden Rams. Previously, he was an assistant coach at the College of William & Mary in Virginia.

While both wins were great accomplishments, Prachniak said, they feel different.

“The years in between gave me a new appreciation for this championship,” he said, adding he is proud of both teams for dealing with the adverse situations that come up throughout the game.

The best feeling about the championship wasn’t just the win itself, Prachniak said.

“(It was) knowing every member of the team played a role in winning; it wasn’t just the starting lineup that got us there,” he said. “It was a great team to work with.”

Prachniak’s favorite part of his job is the day-to-day interaction with the athletes, he said. The talented players remain focused in a conference Prachniak described as competitive with very good teams.

Prachniak said he is thankful for the opportunity to be a member of APSCUF. Being in a union as a coach is a special setup — one that is helpful and important to him, he said.

“Working in college athletics often creates a unique support system naturally, with coaches and support staff working towards common goals together,” Prachniak said. “Being a member of APSCUF takes that support system to a higher level. The collaboration of APSCUF puts us in a better position to provide positive learning experiences for our student-athletes.”

—Lindsey Newton
APSCUF intern

We’ve read the full NCHEMS report, and we are ready to work together to provide a high-quality university education at an affordable cost. Click here to read APSCUF’s complete response.

The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems this afternoon released its full report of its review of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. Click here to download a PDF file of the report.