The Pennsylvania State University ©1997

PENN STATE HELPS RESORT BECOME VIRTUAL LEARNING CENTER

The College of Health and Human Development and The Breakers Palm Beach resort in Florida have joined together to transform the deluxe oceanfront resort and club into a virtual center for learning. The Advanced Leadership Certificate Program provides student employees from different management levels the opportunity to enhance their management and team-building skills under the direction of University faculty and members of The Breakers’ executive team. This unique distance learning concept — which marks the first partnership in the hospitality industry between hotel and educational entities — facilitates academic and professional advancement in the workplace. The full article is online at http://www.outreach.psu.edu/News/Headlines.html or contact Sandy Rothrock at

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HIGH TURNOVER OF CHILD CARE TEACHERS HURTS

Research has demonstrated that education begins long before children enter elementary school. Elizabeth E. Manlove, assistant professor of human development and family studies, says children attending high-quality early childhood programs are more likely to enter elementary school with the cognitive, language, and social skills they need to succeed. However, the average highest-paid assistant teachers in child care centers are paid no more than $7.00 per hour — less than the average salary of a parking lot attendant. This data explains the extraordinarily high turnover rate of more than 30 percent per year among teachers in child care centers. This high rate of turnover deprives children of one of the most crucial elements necessary for healthy development — ongoing relationships with a limited number of sensitive and caring adults who know individual children well. Assuring appropriate staff qualifications and reducing turnover requires providing teachers with salaries commensurate with their education, training, and experience. For the full op-ed article by Manlove, go to http://www.psu.edu/ur/oped.

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THIS MALL HAS CLASS

Over the past year, more than 2,600 people received some sort of education at the Chambersburg Mall — thanks to the Chambersburg Center, Penn State Mont Alto’s continuing education facility established two years ago at the at the shopping center. The center, about 12 miles from the rural campus, offers a full range of services, from credit and noncredit courses to workforce development programs to conference programs. Popular offerings are a health and wellness program and the Green Thumb program, aimed toward making older adults more viable in the workplace. The full article is online http://www.outreach.psu.edu/News/Headlines.html or contact Sandy Rothrock at .

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CENTER FOR GLASS RESEARCH ESTABLISHED

A new Center for Glass Surfaces and Interfaces has been established at Penn State by the National Science Foundation's Industry-University Center for Glass Research (CGR). The Penn State center should ultimately produce research that will allow the development of glass products with greater strength, corrosion tolerance, optical reflectivity and resistance to weathering and scratches. Carlo Pantano, professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Materials Research Institute, will direct the new research site. A total of 34 corporate partners are involved in the CGR. The full article is online at http://www.psu.edu/ur/INTERCOM/center.html or contact Gary Cramer at .

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IT'S FRIDAY AND TIME TO SWING

A new Penn State course — "Master in Ballroom Dance," or ESACT 297 -- seeks to instill an enthusiasm for ballroom dance, including swing dancing, that will last a lifetime. "We want them to get hooked on an activity so they stay involved forever," says Elizabeth Hanley, associate professor of kinesiology. She teaches the course and notes that ballroom dance includes swing, as well as the waltz, foxtrot, cha-cha, tango and other dances. With the current swing craze, many have been attracted to ballroom dancing and Hanley believes the course will make students enthusiasts. The course — which partially fulfills the health and physical activity requirement -- offers no formal dance instruction. Instead, students work with Hanley, and attend meetings of the Ballroom Dancing Club or the Swing Dance Club, as well as dance competitions. The full article is online at http://www.hhdev.psu.edu/news/hhdmag/fall%201999/SWING.html or contact Elizabeth Hanley at .