The federal government expects to hire as many as 273,000 new workers through 2012 to replace retiring baby boomers, according to the Partnership for Public Service. Many of the jobs in medical and public health, security and protection, compliance and enforcement, legal, and administration and program management will require advanced education. State and local governments will face similar challenges in an increasingly competitive labor market. Penn State's new online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is designed to enable more professionals in government and nonprofit organizations to acquire the knowledge and skills they need by learning online. For application information, click here: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/MasterofPublicAdministration?CID=NEW27213(more)
During the current economic recession, more and more adult learners are returning to school. Penn State's population of nearly 93,000 students University-wide includes more than 25,000 adult learners (those 24 years old and older) who have returned to school after a few years, are active duty and veterans of the military or are managing multiple roles. Serving the educational needs of this growing student population is the focus of the annual Hendrick Best Practices for Adult Learners Conference, set for May 10 at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. The theme for this conference is "INNOVATION 2010: Opportunities for the New Decade." (more)
Kimberly DeLong of Oklahoma City, Okla., is making the Air Force her career, but she also wants a college degree to enhance her knowledge and skills. Enter Penn State, which offers a grant-in-aid and other financial aid to military students. For DeLong, the Penn State grant, coupled with Air Force tuition assistance and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, is enabling her to pursue a bachelor's degree in business online through Penn State's World Campus. Her only cost is books. (more)
Penn State Public Broadcasting has announced that the 18th Annual Connoisseur's Dinner and Auction, featuring Chef Martin Yan, is sold out. The fundraising event will take place on Feb. 20, at the Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State's University Park campus. WPSU managers say the gala has never been at full capacity this far in advance of the event. (more)
Pennsylvania is facing a shortage of 16,100 registered nurses this year, according to a Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers report, with the need greatest in rural locations. Two Penn State efforts are helping to address this challenge with new high-tech labs, one mobile, to enhance learning for student nurses and health care professionals in these areas. (more)
Denise Gray's voice is calm, almost nurturing. And despite the fact that the young woman she's talking to, in the military overseas, is on the phone and can't see her, Gray has a concerned expression on her face. It's 2 p.m. on a recent afternoon in the call center of Adult Learner Enrollment Services--a unit of Penn State Outreach that is the central information source for the University's adult student population. (more)
The Penn State Department of Anthropology will offer an archaeological field school from May 17 to June 25. Led by archaeologist Jonathan Burns of AXIS Research Inc., this will be the first professional excavation of Fort Shirley, an important colonial-era fort erected in 1755. The program is open not only to current anthropology students, but to students from all other majors and other universities. The field school provides excellent preparation for those looking for employment within contract archaeology, or those interested in graduate school in anthropology. (more)
A seminar on the first steps of starting a business will be held for Penn State students next week on campus. The Penn State Small Business Development Center's (SBDC) First Step Seminar is designed exclusively for entrepreneurial-minded students, as well as faculty and staff, who may have an idea for a business and need help starting up. The seminar offers the basics on starting a business, from assessing ideas to regulations and obtaining financing. (more)
A nationally recognized expert on economic development will be hosting a forum for faculty, staff and students at Penn State the first week of February. Ed Morrison, staff member of the Center for Regional Development at Purdue University, will hold a talk on "Strategic Doing: Regional Engagement" from 2 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 3, in the Faculty Staff Club room of The Nittany Lion Inn. In addition to the talk, the program will feature a question and answer session, and a meet and greet reception. (more)
