Academics

Take a Peek into the Animal Behavior Lab

10/24/2019
Are larger clawed crayfish more aggressive? Are crayfish territorial? Does size matter? The Animal Behavior (BIOL 208) lab exposes Biology students to the broad, interdisciplinary field of animal behavior. In Dr. Justin Merry’s lab shown in this video, students are testing hypotheses about what traits best predict the ability of the crayfish to control resources in territorial contests. Candidate traits include factors like mass or length, as well as claw size, health (as inferred by body-mass index), or even animal personality. The emphasis throughout the laboratory course is that students

Induction Ceremony for Neuroscience Honor Society

10/08/2019
Saint Francis University held the inaugural induction ceremony for the recently established chapter of Nu Rho Psi , the national Neuroscience honor society. Nu Rho Psi is the only nationally-recognized honor society in the area of brain research. The inducted students and faculty were invited to become members based on their interest and commitment to the interdisciplinary study of Neuroscience. The students were nominated based on their high scholastic achievement and their potential to excel as future neuroscientists. The Saint Francis chapter application received unanimous approval by the

Top 5 Myths about Pre-Medicine

10/05/2019
Myth #1: “Medical schools prefer students who attend big name universities.” Medical schools want students with a strong foundation in the sciences and social sciences. As long as the school you choose understands the requirements for medical school, they can provide you with the appropriate biological and physical science courses that you need. The most important thing is to find an environment where you can be successful, and an advisor that will make sure that you are on the road to success. Myth #2: “A dedicated pre-medicine major will give you an advantage over other majors.” Medical

Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Experimental Learning

10/05/2019
Laboratories PNGE program has established three labs for our undergraduate students. Our Rock Property Lab has multiple different equipment to drill core plug, to measure porosity, permeability, pore specific surface area, water saturation and surface tension, and to test rock mechanical properties. Our PVT Lab has a equipment to test the pressure, volume and temperature of fluids (oil, gas, water) under high pressure and high temperature. Our Drilling Fluids Lab can measure all the basic properties of drilling mud. Plus, we have the real drilling bit, pipeline centralizer, etc. donated by oil

Real Chemistry Experiments: 40 Exciting STEAM Activities for Kids

10/02/2019
Book of chemistry experiments geared to tweens, penned by SFU professor, released in time for Christmas gift giving Real Chemistry Experiments: 40 Exciting STEAM Activities for Kids i s available for pre-order from Amazon and other larger retailers with a scheduled release date of Dec. 10. This colorful, step-by-step guide, written by Saint Francis University Chemistry Professor, Dr. Edward P. Zovinka, aims to make the learning process fun for budding kid chemists ages 8-12. The book outlines real-life science activities that allow the tweens to learn the real chemistry behind how and why each

SFU Nursing BSN Ranks #1 in Nation

09/09/2019
The Saint Francis University Nursing BSN program has ranked number one in the United States. The ranking was completed by rncareers.org , which examined 931 schools. SFU tied for the top spot. A significant portion of the ranking's criteria was determined by each school's NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate. The NCLEX-RN licensure exam is required for students to begin their career in nursing. Saint Francis has proudly touted a 100 percent NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate for five years in a row . The feat is a testament to SFU's commitment to prepare its students to become a practicing nurse

Students develop communication tools for local child who is deaf and blind

08/19/2019
Thomas is a blind and deaf 8-year old from Lilly, PA. SFU Education majors teamed up with Chemistry students to create learning solutions for Thomas. Students designed symbols which they printed on a 3D printer. Project is part of a community-engaged course in which students apply what they learn in class to help the community. Thomas is an 8 year old boy from Lilly, PA who is mostly blind and deaf. Eager to help, Saint Francis University Education majors began working on a project to support Thomas’s understanding and communication with the world around him. Education Professor MaryAnn Shaw

SFU Receives $1 million to Help Veterans Earn Degrees

08/02/2019
Veterans and military personnel will now have an easier way to finish their degree and obtain occupational licensing. The U.S. Department of Labor announced that Saint Francis University has been awarded a 3-year, $1 million dollar grant under the Veterans Accelerated Learning for Licensed Occupations (VALLO) project. Acquired through the Knee Center for the Study of Occupational Regulation (CSOR) which is housed at the Shields School of Business , the grant allows Saint Francis University to launch the Veterans Accelerated Learning Program (VALP) . Studies have found that many veterans have a

Jay Hardy: Building my career in Petroleum Engineering

07/29/2019
The American Petroleum Institute expects that by the year 2035, the industry will employ almost double the number of petroleum engineers in the workforce as of 2015. There is no field where there is no use of petroleum products; the increasing demand for energy provides a necessity to recruit more petroleum engineers. There is still 40 to 50 percent of the oil resources remaining in the subsurface, which calls for better extraction methods and more advanced technology developments. Jay Hardy, a rising Junior Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering and Business double major student, has big goals

Students Participate in Domestic Dental Mission Trip

06/09/2019
Dr. Justin Merry , Associate Professor of Biology , Ms. Jen Merry, Assistant Director of Marketing Strategy, and Dr. Tim Bintrim , Professor of English and Environmental Studies , led a delegation of ten student volunteers to MOM-n-PA , the Pennsylvania Dental Mission of Mercy, held at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre June 7-8, 2019. Now in its eighth year, MOM-n-PA is a huge event that serves roughly 1,800 people over two days, each year delivering a million dollars in free dental services to the under-served. Almost all patients either lack dental insurance or are under-insured, and many