Latest Headlines
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Learning is never ending, whether it's a work-related program or a personal enrichment activity. More than 73 percent of working adults age 17 and older have participated in informal learning programs, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. A second $1 million gift from the Bernard Osher Foundation will enable the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Penn State to expand informal learning opportunities for adults age 50 and older. (more)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
One of the founding leaders of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, John Waldhausen, has died at the age of 82. Waldhausen was the founding chair of the Department of Surgery at the Medical Center and the College of Medicine and led the department for more than 25 years. (more)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited Penn State's University Park campus on May 16, accompanied by Cathie Woteki, the U.S. Department of Agriculture under secretary of research education. The visit included tours of research laboratories, a meeting with Penn State faculty and representatives from 4-H and FFA. The one-day visit commemorates the 150th anniversary of both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Land Grant University System. (more)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Library Journal, the largest and most respected trade publication for the library profession, has selected The Journal of the Civil War Era as one of the ten best new periodicals of 2011. The Journal of the Civil War Era is published jointly by the George and Ann Richards Civil War Era Center in Penn State's College of the Liberal Arts and The University of North Carolina Press. William Blair, director of the Richards Civil War Era Center and Liberal Arts Research Professor of American History who serves as the founding editor, said "I am especially pleased that The Library Journal cited not only the meticulous research behind our articles but also that the work remains accessible to a general reader." (more)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Students on the Penn State Advanced Vehicle Team are putting the finishing touches on presentations and materials in preparation for the EcoCAR 2 Year One Final Competition in Los Angeles beginning Thursday, May 17. Penn State is one of 15 North American teams competing in EcoCAR 2: Plugging In to the Future. The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of a General Motors-donated 2013 Chevrolet Malibu by improving its fuel efficiency and reducing its emissions while retaining its performance and consumer appeal. Throughout year one, students were hard at work designing their advanced propulsion technologies to incorporate in their vehicle in years two and three. (more)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Moses Chan, an Evan Pugh Professor of Physics at Penn State, testified before the U.S. Senate on whether the sell-off of the nation's helium reserve has an adverse effect on the nation's scientific, technical, biomedical and national-security users of helium. Chan, a member of the National Academy of Sciences / National Research Council (NAS/NRC) Committee on Understanding the Impact of Selling the Helium Reserve, gave his testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on May 10. (more)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Board of Trustees website has a new design that puts key information at the fingertips of those who visit. The site, found at http://www.psu.edu/trustees/ online, includes information about the trustees' responsibilities, upcoming meetings, minutes and agendas, and recent news. The site also includes links to information about University governance; the charter, bylaws and standing orders; membership; staff; and history. Outlined on the site is the new structure of the board consisting of five standing committees, which were created to align more closely with University operations. (more)
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Reducing the non-FDA-approved use of antipsychotic drugs may be a way to save money while having little effect on patient care, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study. Researchers say that 57.6 percent of patients prescribed antipsychotic medications in data from 2003 did not have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, the conditions for which the drugs were approved for use. Use of medication for treatments that is not FDA-approved is called off-label use. (more)
Monday, May 14, 2012
"It's never been a better time to be a learner. Active engagement with the resources that are available -- free and very low-cost open content -- that's what is required to see this as a great opportunity. Adult learners have a lot more choices today. That means higher education institutions have to make choices, as well. You need to figure out your [institution's] strengths and focus on personalized learning plans. Help people figure out their goals and interests and map out a plan to get there. Institutions that get this right will have an advantage."
-- Anya Kamenetz, educational gamechanger and senior writer for Fast Company Magazine, keynote speaker on May 14 at the Hendrick Best Practices for Adult Learners Conference. An educational futurist, Kamenetz is author of the book "DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education," which focuses on how technology is disrupting the higher education industry. The Hendrick Conference brings together Penn State administrators, faculty and staff to share their best practices for working with and improving the educational experiences of adult learners University-wide. (more)
Monday, May 14, 2012
A Penn State researcher has been chosen to receive a grant through the Grand Challenges Explorations program, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. David Hughes, assistant professor of entomology and biology, will pursue an innovative global health and development research project, titled "Taking Out the Bodyguards: A Novel Solution to Ag Disease." Hughes' project aims to reduce the incidence of plant diseases -- and consequently crop losses -- by reducing the population of ants that act as protectors for various crop pests. Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) funds individuals worldwide to explore ideas that can break the mold in how we solve persistent global health and development challenges. (more)
