COLLEGE DEGREE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR REALISTIC GOAL
Without realistic career goals and planning, a college degree may not lead to automatic job success or satisfaction, a Penn State educator says. “In the 1960s, a university degree by itself was a virtual guarantee of access to professional and managerial employment,” says Kenneth C. Gray, professor of vocational education. “Unfortunately, for today’s generation of young people, this is no longer true, because now there are more four-year college graduates than there is commensurate employment. Ironically, a number of good-paying, prestigious jobs are still available that do not require a college degree but which continue to go begging.” Gray notes that many high schoolers, even those who dislike formal studies, opt for college because they don’t know what else to do with their lives. For the full story by Paul Blaum, visit http://www.psu.edu/ur/2001/careergoals.html.
DISTINGUISHED WRITERS TO FOCUS ON POLITICS, SPORTS
Pulitzer Prize winning authors Richard Ben Cramer and David Maraniss will visit Penn State’s University Park campus next week for the semiannual Foster Conference of Distinguished Writers. Cramer, author of “Joe DiMaggio: The Hero’s Life” and “What it Takes: The Way to White House,” and Maraniss, author of “When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi” and “First in His Class: A Biography of Bill Clinton,” will participate in two free sessions open to faculty, staff, students and the public. The first session, on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. in 121 Sparks Building, will feature the writers reading excerpts from their books, discussing their writing experiences, and answering questions from the audience. The second session, on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 9:45 a.m. in the Foster Auditorium of Pattee Library, will focus on their books about politicians. For the full story, visit http://www.psu.edu/dept/comm/news/foster09-01.shtml.
H&HD PROFESSORS APPOINTED TO NIH STUDY SECTIONS
Two professors in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development have been appointed to study sections within the National Institutes of Health’s Center for Scientific Review. Elizabeth J. Susman, the Jean Phillips Shibley Professor of biobehavioral health, has been appointed to a risk, prevention and health behavior study section and George P. Vogler, professor of biobehavioral health and associate director of the Center of Developmental and Health Genetics, has been appointed to a social sciences, nursing, epidemiology and methods study section. Study sections review research grant applications that have been submitted for consideration to the National Institutes of Health. Each study section typically reviews 50 to 100 applications based on each application’s scientific focus. For the full story, visit http://www.hhdev.psu.edu/news/pressrel/09_07_2_01.html.
NITTANY LION INN NAMED A FAVORITE MEETING PLACE
The Nittany Lion Inn at Penn State has been named a winner of an “Excellence of the East” award from Meetings East magazine, whose audience is meeting planners from across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Several months ago, the trade magazine asked corporate and association meeting planners to vote for their favorite meeting property--somewhere that they have been in the past two years. “They could use any criteria that is important to them--the quality of meeting space, guest rooms, guest services and amenities, food and beverage service, efficiency and helpfulness of staff, availability of technical equipment, recreational facilities and activities, and overall value and experience,” explains John Farnham, advertising director for the magazine, which showcased the winners in its August/September issue. For more information on the Nittany Lion Inn, visit http://www.pshs.psu.edu/nittanylioninn/nlhome.asp.