Commonwealth Commitments

Penn State Outreach has come together with colleagues from other Penn State colleges and campuses to form a University-wide outreach community. We’re challenging ourselves to view our work through a new lens and define it in a way that ensures it will create impact that supports Penn State’s land-grant mission.

This focus for our work and our emphasis on impact for Pennsylvania takes shape through three Commonwealth Commitments:

Inspire Discovery

Woman standing with her arms out on a cliff with a large lake and mountains behind herWe inspire discovery by presenting events, ideas, and places that promote growth and provide educational experiences for learners of all ages.

Examples of Impact:

  • Courses, clubs, and events for Pennsylvanians aged 50+ to learn, explore, and connect through education and social enrichment
  • Camps, conferences, and symposiums for learners of every age
  • Curation and preservation of green spaces that connect people to the natural world

Prepare Students

Penn State alum Celia Graef teaching several locals in a garden at a small community in Ghana.We prepare students by creating experiential learning opportunities that cultivate the professional knowledge and interpersonal skills needed to succeed.

Examples of Impact:

  • Opportunities for graduate students to experience real-world project management, research, and leadership opportunities
  • Place-based learning that provides students with the chance to gain hands-on experience relevant to their course of study
  • Transformative internships that prepare students for success in a variety of disciplines

Serve Pennsylvania

Two newly hired deputies stand near a police van with Deputy Sheriff Academy written on it.We serve Pennsylvania by offering programs and resources that benefit our neighbors and empower organizations to improve communities.

Examples of Impact:

  • In-person and virtual law enforcement training that prepares officers from Pennsylvania and beyond to effectively serve and protect their communities
  • Partnering with nonprofit, public sector, and private industry groups to co-create sustainable initiatives that directly benefit Pennsylvania communities, large and small
  • Providing classroom resources as well as professional development and networking opportunities to Pennsylvania’s K-12 educators