FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS TARGETED FOR COMPUTER INITIATIVE
Academic programs for first year students are increasingly emphasizing computer skills — and Penn State faculty members expect this trend to expand significantly in the next few years. In fact, it is projected that $5 billion will be spent on information technology by colleges and universities by 2003. Many instructors have begun adapting courses taken by first-year students into learning environments that teach information technology skills. Faculty are also relying on programs like the Student Computing Initiative — the University’s recent recommendation that every full-time student have a personal computer — to get the word out to freshmen and potential students that computers are now an essential part of college life. For the full story, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/INTERCOM/computers.html. For more on the Student Computing Initiative, go to http://www.psu.edu/studentcomputing.--------------------------------------------------
CAREER EXPLORATION DAY AT PENN STATE WILKES-BARRE
Professionals from all walks of life will gather at Penn State Wilkes-Barre tomorrow, Thursday, May 18, to speak with more than 1,100 eighth grade students about career choices. Career Exploration Day was developed in conjunction with the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber, the Luzerne County Business & Education Partnership, and the Luzerne County school system to help students make wise career choices. This project also helps students look at school curriculums early in relation to college choices and the skills they will need to compete in the workforce. For more on Penn State Wilkes-Barre, go to http://www.wb.psu.edu/--------------------------------------------------
FIVE MORE PENN STATE FOOTBALL GAMES TO BE TELEVISED
Five additional Penn State football games will be televised this fall, bringing the total of announced start times to seven for the 2000 season. The Nittany Lions' second home game, September 9 against Louisiana Tech, will be televised by ESPN Regional at 12:10 p.m. Penn State begins its eighth season of Big Ten Conference play at Ohio State on September 23, and ABC will televise the game either at noon or 3:30 p.m. from Columbus, Ohio. Illinois provides the opposition for Penn State's 81st Homecoming game on October 21 at 12:10 p.m., with television to be determined. On October 28, the Lions will battle Indiana at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Kickoff is 6:00 p.m. EST (7:00 EDT) for the espn2 national telecast — Penn State’s first regular season night game since 1995. The Nittany Lions close the regular season November 18, hosting Michigan State at 3:30 p.m. EST on ABC. Previously announced were Penn State's clash with Southern California in the Kickoff Classic (August 27 at 2:30 p.m., ABC) and the September 16 contest at Pittsburgh, which will be a CBS split national telecast at 3:30 p.m. from Three Rivers Stadium. For the full story go to http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=255.--------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL FEATURE: WEDDINGS AT EISENHOWER CHAPEL
On Thursday, Penn State Newswire readers will get a report on the popularity of Eisenhower Chapel as a site for weddings over the years. In addition to the Newswire story, we will link subscribers to a Web site where you can join us in peeking in at a wedding that took place this month at the chapel. And if you were married on campus, we would like to hear from you. Watch for the weddings story in Thursday's edition of the Penn State Newswire.