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| navigate: home: magazine: fall 2003: article | |
| Awards University Continuing Education Association: |
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Penn State Outreach programs and initiatives have been honored with several national University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) awards. The University Continuing Education Association is the principle organization for continuing higher education in the United States. Its members include colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations involved in professional education. University faculty and staff members contributed to these outreach programs and initiatives: |
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| Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters has recognized Penn State Public Broadcasting with two awards: Fred Gadomski and Paul Knight, hosts of WPSX-TV’s Weather World, have been named Television Broadcasters of the Year, and the WPSX-produced Penn State Blue Band Building Campaign spot was selected as the first-place winner in the TV Public Service Announcement category. “WPSX is proud to have the 2003 Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters’ Television Broadcasters of the Year as part of our on-air team,” Ted Krichels, associate vice president for Outreach and general manager of Penn State Public Broadcasting, said. “We thank the association for this recognition of the service Weather World has been providing to central Pennsylvania.” WPSX-TV staff members who helped create the award-winning Blue Band spot include producer/director Jeff Hughes; client manager Susanna Ritti; videographer/associate producer Don Hampton; audio production assistant Jennifer Bortz; video compositing assistant Matt Chirdon; and executive producer Tracy Vosburgh. The spot was created in partnership with the College of Arts and Architecture and can be viewed on the Penn State Blue Band Web site, also created by the staff of Penn State Public Broadcasting, at http://blueband.psu.edu. |
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| Domestic Relations Assocation of Pennsylvania: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roy McCullagh of the Pennsylvania Child Support Enforcement Training Institute is the recipient of the President’s Award by the Domestic Relations Association of Pennsylvania. The award honors a person who works outside of the domestic relations field but who has made a significant contribution to Pennsylvania’s Child Support Enforcement Program. Penn State’s Training Institute is organized by the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute, Penn State Management Development Programs and Services and the College of the Liberal Arts. Launched in May 2002 with a $10.85 million contract from the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare, the institute offers training in all aspects of the state’s enforcement program to child support enforcement personnel. |
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Dr. Ronald L. Filippelli, associate dean for Administration and Undergraduate Studies in the College of the Liberal Arts, has been honored with the third annual Shirley Hendrick Continuing Education Award for Outstanding Academic Leadership from Penn State Continuing Education. The award recognizes an academic administrator whose visionary accomplishments have contributed significantly to the success of the University’s Continuing Education efforts. Other Continuing Education awards and recipients are: |
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| Penn State Public Broadcasting Awards: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Penn State Harrisburg professor honored for work with students By Mary B. Waltman |
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For 31 years, Dr. Clemmie Gilpin, assistant professor of community systems and Afro-American studies, has been a role model and inspiration to his young students at Penn State Harrisburg. As coordinator of the Social Sciences Program in the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education, he not only prepares students to be knowledgeable and productive members of society, but as both an academic and activities adviser, he also helps them connect to local and international communities. For his exemplary work with students, Gilpin received the 2003 President’s Award for Engagement with Students at the annual spring Awards Convocation at University Park. The award is presented each year to a full-time faculty member “who goes beyond his or her responsibilities to engage and encourage students in learning, demonstrating deep caring and involvement with student learning.” For his selfless dedication as an academic and student organization adviser and mentor, Gilpin received several other awards. He was honored with the Penn State Student Government Association’s Faculty Adviser of the Year Award five times, as well as the Provost’s Community Service Award, the Faculty Senate Outstanding Service Award and the James A. Jordan memorial Award for Teaching Excellence. His belief that co-curricular activities should not only be fun, but also serve to complement the academics, has contributed to his success in linking students to the community outside the campus. “Co-curricular activities encourage students to be a part of the community and be involved even after they leave school,” he noted. Teri L. Dine-Edwards, secondary education social studies student, said, “Dr. Gilpin is always willing to help us out. He takes time to not only share his experiences with his students in the classroom setting, but also through the many activities that he has planned throughout the years. The lasting effect that Dr. Gilpin has had on me will always be a standard for me to aspire to in my own classroom.” As faculty adviser for the International Affairs Association at Penn State Harrisburg, Gilpin helps members increase their understanding of the world and its physical and cultural differences. Association members participate in a variety of activities that include lectures, discussions, special guests and competitive games, such as Global Pursuit. For one project called Heifer International, funds are used to help provide a heifer or smaller animal, such as a goat or sheep, to aid a family in another country to produce its own food. Students in the International Affairs Association also act as co-directors of the Model United Nations Program, which Gilpin founded 31 years ago as an outreach to regional high school students in south central Pennsylvania. By following the United Nations forum, high school students can discuss and study international issues in depth. “It encourages them to look at issues from the perspective of other countries,” he said. “It also gives students interested in international affairs an opportunity to polish their public speaking skills and gain experience writing public opinion papers.” Gilpin finds it especially rewarding to see his former students, who are now teachers in the community, introduce their students to the United Nations Conference as delegates. Each February, the students attend a two-and-a-half-day United Nations Model Conference held at Penn State Harrisburg. “It is a great learning experience,” he said, noting that his involvement as an undergraduate student at Virginia State University led to a continuing interest in the concept and an awareness of world issues and cultures. “It was natural to want to continue that involvement and introduce it to others.” In addition to his work with the International Affairs Association and the United Nations Model Conference, he also is faculty adviser for the Black Student Union at Penn State Harrisburg. Last year, the organization received funding to travel to Harlem to explore that community’s rich history and culture, including the literary works of black intellectuals of the 1920’s renaissance. Students also toured the Schomburg Cultural Center, the Apollo Theater and other community sites. Gilpin, who also is a member of the graduate faculty for the master’s degree program in community psychology and social change, has seen firsthand how student organizations contribute valuable insights to the students’ learning experiences and help them grow professionally. “It gets them involved and extends to their lives even after they leave school,” he said. A resident of Middletown, he is involved in a number of community projects and activities. In addition to serving on the United Nations Association of South Central Pennsylvania, he is a member of other organizational boards, including the Human Services Program at Harrisburg Area Community College and the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Diversity Committee. Early in his career, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nigeria and as a teacher and program developer in Canada, Congo Republic, South Africa, England and Malaysia. Gilpin received his bachelor of arts degree in history from Virginia State University, a master of arts in foreign affairs from Ohio University and his doctorate in community systems from Penn State. |
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| Appointments and Promotions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Thompson assumes dual appointments Dr. Melody M. Thompson now has a dual role at Penn State. She is director of the American Center for the Study of Distance Education (ACSDE) and assistant professor of education in the College of Education and director of Quality and Planning for the Penn State World Campus in Penn State Outreach. As director of ACSDE, her goal is to reorganize the center as a collaborative network that emphasizes externally funded research and evaluation projects, professional development activities, such as workshops and seminars, and resources relating to technology-based teaching and learning. In her World Campus role, she continues her responsibilities for strategic planning, organizational process improvement and leadership development initiatives. |
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| Cooperative Extension:
Dr. Marilyn Corbin and Dr. Jack Watson have been promoted to associate directors of Penn State Cooperative Extension. Corbin’s new title is associate director and state program leader for children, youth and families, and Watson’s new title is associate director and state program leader for agriculture and natural resources. They join Dr. Daney Jackson in carrying the title of associate director. Jackson will continue as associate director and chief operating officer for Cooperative Extension.
Thomas Walker has been appointed director of the Center for Outreach and Cooperative Extension, which serves residents of the Juniata Valley. Walker is based in the Penn State Cooperative Extension office in Mifflin County. Previously, he was county extension coordinator and assistant professor in Morgan County, West Virginia. Martin appointed assistant director of development for 4-H
Michael Martin has been appointed assistant director of development for 4-H in the Office of Outreach Development. He previously served as special assistant to the vice president for Outreach and Cooperative Extension.
He will spearhead a comprehensive fund-raising effort for the Pennsylvania 4-H youth development program. He will be responsible for generating financial resources to enhance programs, recognize members, build endowments and support leadership development for youth and 4-H volunteers. The focus will be on raising funds for 4-H from individuals, corporations and foundations.
Martin was a 4-H member for 10 years, and he has 17 years of experience as a 4-H agent and county extension director. |
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Nelson elected co-chair of Coordinating Council
Dr. Patricia A. Nelson, associate dean for Outreach, Cooperative Extension, International Programs and Technology in the College of Education, has been elected co-chair of the Coordinating Council for Outreach. She is serving as co-chair with Dr. Craig D. Weidemann, vice president for Outreach. Nelson’s term runs from August 2003 through July 2004.
Established in 1998, the Coordinating Council for Outreach includes representatives from all academic colleges and campuses and Outreach units systemwide. The council advises the President and Provost on outreach strategy, policy and programming. Members also serve as advocates and supporters of outreach within their colleges and units, encouraging faculty members to share their expertise to improve the lives of Pennsylvanians and others around the world. |
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| Penn State on the Mountain
Penn State Worthington Scranton Continuing Education has launched the Penn State on the Mountain program to provide quality, convenient educational opportunities for employees of companies located at the Montage Mountain corporate park in Scranton, Pa. During the 2002–03 academic year, the campus conducted six courses.
“After meeting with the human resource representatives at various companies on Montage Mountain, it was determined that many entry-level employees need additional education before they can advance professionally,” Michele Davis, director of Continuing Education, said.
Through a collaboration of efforts that involved faculty in the business degree programs, Academic Affairs and Continuing Education, the campus determined this adult population would benefit most from educational programs that were convenient and met the needs of employers. Accelerated courses became the best option for this population.
Through Penn State on the Mountain, students have a variety of options. They can enroll in a course, complete a business certificate program or complete an associate degree. Courses are offered in eight-week terms, and two courses are offered during each term. They are held two evenings a week from 6 to 9 p.m. in seminar rooms at one of the Montage Mountain hotels. By offering the courses at the base of the mountain, students can access the courses on their way to or from work.
“What this means to area employees is that they can advance their skills, earn college credit and open up the possibility of completing a university certificate or degree program by taking courses close by,” Davis said.
In addition to the business courses available through Penn State on the Mountain, Continuing Education offers a variety of two-day professional development programs on such topics as effective presentations, operations improvements, promoting a positive work climate and applied business writing. |
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Penn State celebrates 20 years of elderhostel
Tex Wyndham, an authority on ragtime, Dixieland and turn-of-the-century popular music, leads a session on “Sounds of Music” during the Penn State Elderhostel program titled The World of Ragtime, Early Tin Pan Alley and Dixieland Jazz. Twenty-five adults from around the nation participated in the weeklong summer program. The University is celebrating 20 years of offering Elderhostel programs to adults 55 and older. Courses feature 22 hours of education, as well as other activities and tours.
An outreach program of Penn State Continuing Education’s Conferences and Institutes |
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Continuing education hosts open houses
Continuing Education at University Park hosted a series of open houses for adult students during the spring. The goal was to inform interested adults, including Penn State staff members, about associate and baccalaureate degrees, certificate and noncredit programs available through Continuing Education.
These education programs feature part-time evening and weekend classes, as well as lunchtime classes. The flexible formats are designed to help students balance their education, work and family responsibilities.
Representatives from a number of Penn State organizations, including CE@UP, Student Aid, the Penn State World Campus, the College of the Liberal Arts, the College of Health and Human Development and the Center for Adult Learner Services, were on hand to meet with prospective students during the open houses. |
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| Learning for a lifetime Alumni Outreach pursues new vision for linking alumni with Penn State By Deborah A. Benedetti |
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| Alumni Outreach has embarked on a mission to expand access to Penn State educational programming to alumni and friends of the University. Under the leadership of Roxanne C. Shiels, director of Alumni Outreach, this unit of Penn State Outreach has adopted a new vision and goals, in partnership with the Penn State Alumni Association. As part of this partnership, Shiels reports to both Outreach and the Alumni Association. Since 1992, Alumni Outreach has been providing specialized educational programming to alumni and others. During 2002, more than 4,000 alumni participated in programming delivered by Penn State Outreach units. “We have been successful creating programs specific to our alumni, but these programs are reaching a relatively small pool of alumni,” Dr. Wayne D. Smutz, senior director of Outreach Program Development and associate director of the Division of Continuing Education, said. “We would like to connect many more alumni to Penn State’s rich portfolio of educational programming. With the appointment of Roxanne Shiels, we have now formalized our new vision and strategy for increasing alumni enrollment.” Dr. Deborah Marron, director of Program Development and Enrichment for the Penn State Alumni Association, has been closely involved in shaping the mission of Alumni Outreach. She said, “There are nearly 437,000 Penn State alumni. In our surveys of alumni, we found they rank ‘access to continuing education’ as one of their most valued benefits. Our goal is to make Penn State the first choice for alumni seeking professional development and personal enrichment programming. Our partnership with Outreach in creating Alumni Outreach is critical to realizing this mission.” Since joining the Alumni Outreach staff in 2002, Shiels has immersed herself in learning about Penn State, the Outreach organization and the Alumni Association. She has participated in numerous discussions with Penn State administrators and staff members, conducted environmental scanning of other alumni educational programs and performed Web searches of alumni programs in Big Ten institutions. In addition, she has talked with staff members at the University of Notre Dame, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Pittsburgh. Shiels found Penn State’s approach to educational programs for alumni is unique. Other higher education institutions have relationships between their continuing education units and alumni associations, but none are as extensive as Outreach’s partnership with the Penn State Alumni Association. Alumni Outreach is not only responsible for linking alumni to enrichment-type programs, but also to other credit and noncredit programs aimed at serving their continuing education and professional development needs. In her discussions with colleagues at other institutions, she found they were eager to learn more about Penn State’s model. “We are breaking new ground, and it’s a challenge,” Shiels said. Alumni Outreach’s mission is “to make Penn State our alumni’s first thought when considering professional and personal education and to provide outstanding service in ensuring our alumni’s educational needs are met.” Shiels said, “At the heart of this mission is creating and nurturing relationships. Relationship-building is Alumni Outreach’s strength. We want to be able to link alumni to the programs that meet their needs, to do what’s best for them. Then we can build on that relationship to keep alumni coming back to Penn State throughout their lives.” The target audience Alumni Outreach is focusing on is the 315,294 alumni who are 25 to 55 years old and already hold a degree from the University. Nearly 58 percent of these alumni live in Pennsylvania. In the future, Alumni Outreach will expand the audience to include alumni in the Mid-Atlantic region and in states where large numbers of alumni live: California, Florida and Texas. “If we follow all of the elements of our strategic plan, we expect alumni enrollments will exceed 11,000 in 2006,” she said. To achieve this objective, Alumni Outreach is focusing on five goals for 2003–06: |
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| At the same time, Alumni Outreach is making use of survey data and other information the Alumni Association has compiled to help shape its approach to reaching alumni. “Our alumni have high expectations for their University,” Shiels said. “We know Penn State alumni feel a sense of ownership in the University and expect to receive personalized attention when they come back. As the only unit within Penn State Outreach charged with working specifically with alumni, Alumni Outreach is ideally positioned to help create the mechanisms for providing that personal attention, in concert with the Penn State Alumni Association.” |
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| Outreach marketing awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outreach Marketing initiatives have been honored with 15 awards from the Admissions Marketing Report and 11 awards from the University Continuing Education Association. “These national awards recognize our continuing leadership in educational marketing,” Bill Minor, senior director of Outreach Marketing, said. “They are a tangible result of the impact of our new marketing philosophy for Penn State Outreach programs and courses.” The voice of the customer is now paramount in all Outreach Marketing activities, according to Minor. Adult learners are motivated to enroll in education programs, because they want to change careers, increase their income, keep pace with rapidly changing technology or remain competitive in the marketplace. “Marketing can help to create value propositions for outreach offerings, differentiating educational products in a more competitive environment,” he explained. “We need to stress that the benefits of our programs are worth the cost. We can do this by packaging existing courses and programs in a compelling manner.” Along with creating value propositions for clients, Marketing staff members develop marketing strategies that focus on brand positioning, which provides a frame of reference for customers. Penn State already enjoys national and international ranking for its academic and research programs. Specific outreach programs will benefit from developing a position statement that concisely defines the benefits of a program to the customer, while emphasizing the University’s reputation. The heart of the marketing approach is the marketing work plan, which identifies opportunities, barriers, objectives, competition, target audience, benefits, support and other factors specific to the program to be marketed. “The marketing work plan is a catalyst to gain consensus for the strategic marketing approach,” Minor said. “We prepare the plan first, basing it on research.” Outreach Marketing staff members focus on long-term sustainable results. They consider the scope of the programming and the competing demands. “We are looking at positioning Penn State Outreach to address key audiences with well-positioned programs. That takes time. Sometimes there’s friction with our strategy, because everyone wants everything now, but our clients are beginning to see the value of our approach,” he said. Minor envisions Outreach Marketing becoming more involved in programming through the research services it provides, including industry-segment and business-sector environmental scanning, target-audience identification and refinement, program opportunity identification, assistance in determining program and service pricing, research about customers’ perceptions of Penn State Outreach products and services, and assistance in the creation, fielding and evaluation of customer service and feedback instruments. Marketing’s national awards reflect its new approach. Admissions Marketing Report, a national monthly magazine covering the admissions marketing field of colleges, universities and vocational and proprietary schools, honored the following Penn State initiatives with awards: |
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| The University Continuing Education Association, the principle organization for continuing higher education in the United States, honored the following outreach initiatives with UCEA awards: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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