UNDERGRAD RESEARCH BENEFITS STUDENTS, UNIVERSITY
Research is a significant element in undergraduate education at Penn State, with more than 5,000 undergraduates participating in some form of research this past year. Rodney Erickson, executive vice president and provost, told the Board of Trustees today (May 11) that involvement in research often helps students decide on a career path or rule out certain careers. It can also help them decide if graduate school is the right choice for them and position them for added success in their future work or studies. “With the cooperation of the academic deans at Penn State, we have been able to increase the number of students who are engaged in undergraduate research opportunities,” he said. “And, our experience indicates that this is an educational activity that doesn’t cost large sums of money.” For the full story, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/bot11may01undergrad.html
SCHOOL OF IST MAKES GREAT STRIDES, PLANS FOR MORE
In their first two years of activity, the faculty, staff and students of Penn State’s School of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) affected improvements in information technology across the state that will continue at an even greater pace in the next year, IST’s Dean James Thomas told the Board of Trustees today (May 11). As of May 2001, IST had 72 faculty members at 19 Penn State campuses teaching a total of 2,572 students. In addition to these individuals were 400 “virtual students” enrolled in IST’s on-line certificate programs, the most popular of which prepares students to become Webmasters through the World Campus. For the full story, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/bot11may01ist.html
STUDENTS BEFORE JUDICIAL AFFAIRS SAY SANCTIONS FAIR
An informational report to the Penn State Board of Trustees today (May 11) by Joseph Puzycki, director of judicial affairs, outlined trends in the student misconduct cases at University Park and other Penn State locations brought before the office. Student response to the sanctions leveled by Penn State in recent years is supportive. The office conducted a survey of each student sanctioned for code violations between 1997 and 2000. According to Puzycki, more than 94 percent of respondents felt that they were treated respectfully, given fair opportunity to explain their behavior, and offered sufficient options for resolving the situation. In addition, 96 percent felt the decisions of the office were fair, and 97 percent believed the University’s punishment was fair and appropriate. For the full story, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/bot11may01judicial.html