Still Life
University Park Airport Emergency Response Exercise
Commencement across Penn State: Spring 2012
Spring commencement 2012 under way
Penn State, Moroccan students problem-solve together
Finals Week Spring Semester 2012
Painting the Lines at Beaver Stadium
Did They Get It Right? - RedTails
Iconic Penn State elm taken down over spring break 2012
We ... are Penn State (December 19, 2011)
Disease stricken matching elm tree slated for removal
Penn State's creamery, from the cow to the cone
Today's products of daily living can be a pain -- literally. In U.S. workplaces alone, there are more than 3 million injuries and illnesses annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Penn State's human factors engineering and ergonomics program, available online, can help professionals gain the knowledge needed to design products and workspaces for optimal human use, which can prevent repetitive stress injury, reduce health care costs and improve human-machine interactions.
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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)
"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)
More than 42,000 Pennsylvania and 11.2 million U.S. public school children speak a language other than English at home, according to state and federal reports. To help these children learn English, teachers need specialized knowledge about learning a second language and a new culture. Penn State's Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) Certificate Program with an Ecuador Immersion Experience can help by providing an accelerated education option for teachers and Penn State students. (more)
Pennsylvania's unemployment rate continues to improve, from a high of 8.8 percent in 2010 to 7.5 percent today, as more companies expand their workforces. Central Pennsylvania residents who want to learn about job opportunities in this region are invited to attend the fifth annual Central Pennsylvania Regional Career Fair from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday, May 21, at The Penn Stater Conference Center in Innovation Park.
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Douglas Mellott of Runville, Pa., is caring for four families as he furthers his education at Penn State. He is the married father of five children and pastor of three United Methodist Churches. Thanks to the flexibility of online courses in Penn State's World Campus, Mellott is able to balance the needs of all of his families with his educational goal. He graduates this weekend. (more)
Penn State adult learner Shounda Hathaway of Hampton Roads, Va., started her Penn State career at Penn State Altoona in 1986. She transferred to Penn State Harrisburg for her junior year, but financial issues caused her to drop out. It wasn't until 2005 when she learned about Penn State's World Campus that she resumed her studies. In between, Hathaway married and had a son, who was diagnosed with autism. As an online student, she also overcame pneumonia and a mild heart attack. She will graduate on Saturday, May 5. (more)
As the nation marks National Military Appreciation Month in May, Penn State is reporting 40 percent growth in enrollments of active-duty military and veteran students in Penn State's World Campus for 2011, or 14 percent of all online enrollments. This trend is the result of Penn State's dedicated Military Admissions and Advising Team. (more)
A Penn State Outreach employee has won a national higher education award for her service to the adult learner community. Lori Stania, director of Student Enrollment Services, Financial Operations and Analytics at Outreach, World Campus and Continuing Education, is the 2012 recipient of the Adelle F. Robertson Continuing Professional Educator Award from the University Professional and Continuing Education Association. (more)
Alison Franklin, toxicology major in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, recovered from anorexia and bulimia to return to school and is this year's Penn State Outstanding Adult Student Award winner. (more)
