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Changes coming to Penn State Altoona in the next few years have Chancellor Ron Darbeau excited for the future.
Encouraging more students to stay at the Blair County campus for their entire college education -- from earning a bachelor's degree to a masters -- and adding sports and programs, the plan mapped out in Vision 2030 will not only positively impact students, it will provide a boost to the local economy as well, Darbeau said.
A key component is to boost enrollment in the next several years, from the current 2,300 to the mid-3,000s by the end of the decade. That will be made possible by adding more baccalaureate degrees that align with students' interests and employment prospects, he said.
In addition, the campus plans to offer master’s degrees and 3-and-2 or 4-and-1 programs, allowing students to earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees simultaneously, making them highly competitive in the job market, Darbeau said.
To complement the academic additions, the Altoona campus plans to also expand its athletic programs.
"The addition of men’s and women’s wrestling and women's golf for 2024-25 will give the department 17 intercollegiate teams by next sports season," said Marissa Carney, media relations coordinator.
Additional sports will be introduced in both 2025 and 2026, Darbeau said, noting improvements to the campus will be needed.
"We are looking at what that means for the infrastructure ... like fields and tracks," he said.
It would also mean adding coaches and coaching staff, managers and trainers to the campus.
The additions would bring in more student athletes, who would stay all four years "and create a more vibrant campus," said Shari Routch, director of enrollment management.
Student support
Retaining students remains a top priority for campus officials, and the establishment of the Student Success Center will provide a one-stop shop for students facing challenges.
Located on the first floor of the Eiche Library building, Darbeau said the center’s rapid implementation was due to the dedication of Peter Moran and his team.
"For years, we were looking for opportunities to better integrate and utilize our student support services to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of our students," he said.
The center includes support services and programs including disability resources, tutoring and writing support, student advocacy, internships and peer mentoring.
Students can also get help setting their academic, professional and personal goals.
"The SCC represents a shift to a more collaborative and responsive approach to assisting our students during their journey at Penn State Altoona," Moran said.
Darbeau said the center will continually evolve to meet students’ needs.
The fall semester kicked off with a broad array of programming, including time management, goal-setting, test-taking and reading comprehension strategies, among others.
The SSC is also the home for the Lion Guidez peer mentoring program.
Beginning the summer before fall classes and continuing throughout the academic year, Lion Guidez provides support, information and guidance to incoming first-year students as they make the transition to university life and work toward their personal and academic goals, organizers said.
Another area of concern is addressing the mental health needs of students and plans are in place to establish a chapter of Active Minds, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health, especially among young adults, via peer-to-peer dialogue and interaction.
Sue Patterson, director of diversity, equity and inclusion, "has hit the ground running and is working to make sure the campus is a place where all versions of diversity are welcome," Darbeau said.
Patterson said that diversity is important on campus because it allows everyone to learn about different perspectives; engaging in those differences makes everyone better.
"We want to make sure that the campus is a safe space where students feel comfortable to be themselves," she said.
For international students, plans are to have foods and celebrations they might have at home on campus.
"By doing this, we can make sure the international students feel comfortable while also giving them chances to share their culture," Patterson said.
New programs, new tech
By 2024, every student on campus will be provided an iPad and Apple Pencil through the iPad initiative, Darbeau said.
To streamline operations, faculty and staff are being trained to integrate the devices into their classrooms, and infrastructure -- such as Apple TV and monitors -- are being installed, he said.
Not only will the initiative reduce the cost of paper and printing, but is expected to make textbooks more affordable through ebooks.
Other plans in the works include increasing fundraising efforts to provide scholarships, expanding the rail transportation engineering program and highlighting the nursing program.
“We have one of the best nursing programs in Penn State," Darbeau said, adding that the "rail transportation engineering program is the only one of its kind in the country."
A new mechanical engineering program will be housed in the Cypress Building, currently undergoing renovations.
“Once it is completed, we expect that this major will attract a significant number of students," he said.
Darbeau acknowledged the dedication of his predecessor, Lori J. Bechtel-
Wherry, in positioning the campus for future success.
“Penn State Altoona has been blessed by having really good leadership, a dedicated faculty and staff, an engaged student body, and a community committed to the success of the campus,” he said.
Target in sight
One of the strategic reasons for selecting 2030 as the target for full implementation of updating the campus is an impending demographic shift.
The world is evolving rapidly with advancements in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, climate change and global unrest, and the campus aims to equip students with skills needed to tackle the issues, officials said.
Routch said the campus' international student numbers were at 300 before the pandemic, but have dropped to 121 this year.
There has been an increase in first-year international students, she said, explaining that universities want to create partnerships with schools in China and India among others.
"We want to bring their students here based on popular degrees," she said, noting plans are underway to increase the number of international students on campus, promoting cultural exchange and global perspectives.
Darbeau said bringing in more students, faculty and staff will also be good for the local economy.
Penn State Altoona has been a key component in the revitalization of downtown, he said, adding that he has had conversations with local businesses on partnership opportuntiies.
The campus' presence in downtown Altoona includes the Aaron Building, Devorris Downtown Center, Kazmaier Family Building, Penn Building and the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence.
While Darbeau doesn't expect the college's footprint downtown to get larger, he does want to retain its current vibrant presence.
The changes coming to Penn State Altoona are exciting, he said.
"I don't think folks will recognize this campus in three or five years," he said.
Mirror Staff Writer Cati Keith is at 814-946-7535.