THE IUP Football Thread

[Fightingscot82]

I had 3 or 4 classes in Weyandt and the first one was taught by Foge Fazio's brother.

Proud alum of Cal U

[ironmaniup]

I had 3 or 4 classes in Weyandt and the first one was taught by Foge Fazio's brother.

Frank, he was involved with football for a while, he always said he taught Mike Ditka everything he knew about chemistry - he was his teacher in Highschool. I think he died a few years back.

[iupgroundhog]

Weyandt was a relic 25 years ago. Although, of course, it is the site of one of the great campus mysteries.

I had 3 or 4 classes in Weyandt and the first one was taught by Foge Fazio's brother.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

It was actually a very active Dean that lead the fundraising and gathered the donors - there was an advisory committee to help design the building, as well as have input into facilities and programs. . Kopchick is originally from Indiana, and his dad worked in the Science stockroom at IUP for many years. IUP has alot of really successful STEM grads - and she focused them on the building and the programs, for instance the new Environmental engineering program. Add to that, the replacement is for a 1960s Science building, so weyandt has been worse than average for 20 years. The tours avoided it the last few years. The other advantage is that all of the health related majors, like nursing will take intro science classes there. So it should help, at least for a few years.

Weyandt was a relic 25 years ago. Although, of course, it is the site of one of the great campus mysteries.

[ironmaniup]

Oh I think its possible. You'd be surprised how little things like that make its way to admissions staff. Some probably won't step foot in the building until they have a meeting there 2-3 years from now. Its a very different attitude in a unionized environment that rewards longevity vs a private university where your performance dictates your raises.

I agree that Driscoll's background probably made this happen more so than just their wealth and proclivity for IUP. That's not the type of donation regional universitieIs tend to get.

The challenge will be for IUP to directly market the value of this facility and the potential cost savings versus others. That's where PASSHE needs significant improvement. They aren't good at communicating their value proposition - especially given the public attention to the cost of college. For example, there is a great opportunity to advertise a tuition freeze in spite of inflation. IUP advertised its "20% discount" but really it was them scrapping a bad pricing model and going back to PASSHE standard tuition rates.

It was actually a very active Dean that lead the fundraising and gathered the donors - there was an advisory committee to help design the building, as well as have input into facilities and programs. . Kopchick is originally from Indiana, and his dad worked in the Science stockroom at IUP for many years. IUP has alot of really successful STEM grads - and she focused them on the building and the programs, for instance the new Environmental engineering program. Add to that, the replacement is for a 1960s Science building, so weyandt has been worse than average for 20 years. The tours avoided it the last few years. The other advantage is that all of the health related majors, like nursing will take intro science classes there. So it should help, at least for a few years.

[Fightingscot82]

Nobody can predict the future but I think the new IUP science building can be a huge asset for the school. The facility is designed to be utilitarian.

The emphasis on STEM at IUP is also supported by PASSHE at the central level. Hopefully, they can promote it through high schools in PA as the go-to place to major in science. Students will major in things that are in demand and they will have life-long marketability and it will come at a relatively low price when compared to other options. If handled right, it can be a real boon for IUP.

While many of us have been critical of Driscoll, the STEM emphasis is in his wheelhouse and I think that will work well. I think there is also a plan to expand into new programs.

If this doesn't push IUP back to where people expect it to be, nothing will. It's a pretty big thing and I think it stands out from the crowd.

Oh I think its possible. You'd be surprised how little things like that make its way to admissions staff. Some probably won't step foot in the building until they have a meeting there 2-3 years from now. Its a very different attitude in a unionized environment that rewards longevity vs a private university where your performance dictates your raises.

I agree that Driscoll's background probably made this happen more so than just their wealth and proclivity for IUP. That's not the type of donation regional universities tend to get.

The challenge will be for IUP to directly market the value of this facility and the potential cost savings versus others. That's where PASSHE needs significant improvement. They aren't good at communicating their value proposition - especially given the public attention to the cost of college. For example, there is a great opportunity to advertise a tuition freeze in spite of inflation. IUP advertised its "20% discount" but really it was them scrapping a bad pricing model and going back to PASSHE standard tuition rates.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

We'll be there one way or another. You can still easily find rooms within 45 minutes of campus.

The following week gets a bit more tricky. Shippensburg isn't exactly sprawling with hotel rooms. Luckily, however, it isn't a 'hotel worthy' trip from Indiana for most of the fanbase.

That said, if they want a crowd at Ship ... best take care of business at ESU. The travel squad will take a major hit if they start 0-1.

[ironmaniup]

Only a matter of time before they institute a 2-year campus residency requirement.

I wouldn't be surprised. On the plus side, they have been able to refinance the Loans. The craziest thing was when someone came up with the idea that lower enrollment meant they had to raise room and board costs, so they could service the loans. Hopefully, closing a few dorms for now, and getting rid of the per credit tuition will help.

[IUPNation]

For whatever reason hotels near ESU on the weekend of September 10th are either full or just about full.

[badboyz8]

For whatever reason hotels near ESU on the weekend of September 10th are either full or just about full.

[Bart]

Only a matter of time before they institute a 2-year campus residency requirement.

IUP had no housing for graduate students in my day, so maybe that's available now. I recall the days at Bloom, when seniors were not allowed to live on campus, and juniors were put into a lottery to see if there was any housing available.Otherwise, good luck finding a place to live in town. As for cars, they were not allowed for freshman, who were required to live on campus, unless they were commuting from their homes. As the world turns...

[iupgroundhog]

Not fancy academic buildings. IMO, it will have to feature lab facilities not typically found at a regional university. So many campuses have relatively new & refurbished academic buildings so it has to be truly novel - and even then that will only last for so long. When I was at Edinboro 20+ years ago they had science facilities that while older weren't pulling in students or tied to a degree program (like a planetarium). They had a telescope facility miles south of campus but when money got tight sold it to Allegheny College.

Nobody can predict the future but I think the new IUP science building can be a huge asset for the school. The facility is designed to be utilitarian.

The emphasis on STEM at IUP is also supported by PASSHE at the central level. Hopefully, they can promote it through high schools in PA as the go-to place to major in science. Students will major in things that are in demand and they will have life-long marketability and it will come at a relatively low price when compared to other options. If handled right, it can be a real boon for IUP.

While many of us have been critical of Driscoll, the STEM emphasis is in his wheelhouse and I think that will work well. I think there is also a plan to expand into new programs.

If this doesn't push IUP back to where people expect it to be, nothing will. It's a pretty big thing and I think it stands out from the crowd.

[Fightingscot82]

When IUP (and others) was booming, incoming students were forced to live in un-air conditioned, glorified prison cells -- with a communal restroom/shower at the end of the hall. The buildings were old. It would be miserable in classrooms in September and May.

Ironically, now that the housing is better than many hotels, etc., and the campus is full of new, modern buildings, the enrollment has tanked.

Obviously, the two don't go hand in hand, but, it is quite ironic.

Last I heard, they aren't even opening two of the 'dorms' this Fall. They also shut down a couple of the more popular dining options this past Spring semester. The college slum lord market in Indiana (thankfully) is all but dead.

Only a matter of time before they institute a 2-year campus residency requirement.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Not fancy academic buildings. IMO, it will have to feature lab facilities not typically found at a regional university. So many campuses have relatively new & refurbished academic buildings so it has to be truly novel - and even then that will only last for so long. When I was at Edinboro 20+ years ago they had science facilities that while older weren't pulling in students or tied to a degree program (like a planetarium). They had a telescope facility miles south of campus but when money got tight sold it to Allegheny College.

When IUP (and others) was booming, incoming students were forced to live in un-air conditioned, glorified prison cells -- with a communal restroom/shower at the end of the hall. The buildings were old. It would be miserable in classrooms in September and May.

Ironically, now that the housing is better than many hotels, etc., and the campus is full of new, modern buildings, the enrollment has tanked.

Obviously, the two don't go hand in hand, but, it is quite ironic.

Last I heard, they aren't even opening two of the 'dorms' this Fall. They also shut down a couple of the more popular dining options this past Spring semester. The college slum lord market in Indiana (thankfully) is all but dead.

[Matt Burglund]

John J. and Char Kopchick Hall