In an informational report to the Board of Trustees today (March 16), College of Health and Human Development Dean Raymond T. Coward discussed building on the success of the College and maintaining its competitive edge.

"My role as the designated new leader of this College is quite clear," said Coward. "I was not brought here to make major changes in the direction of these programs, but to build on the enormous success that this College has already achieved."

Established in 1865, the College has approximately 5,000 undergraduates and 650 graduate students enrolled at University Park and more than 44,000 living alumni. A complex academic unit, the College includes the School of Nursing, which is the largest producer of nurses in Pennsylvania, the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Recreation Management and six academic departments. A decade ago, Penn State became the first University in the nation to create a Department of Biobehavioral Health.  It also operates eight research centers and four clinical service units.

The College is a partner in Penn State's Children, Youth and Families Consortium, the Life Sciences Consortium and the Environmental Consortium. Coward praised the College's outreach efforts that serve more than 21,000 individuals in courses, workshops, conferences and community education programs throughout the state.

In addition, Coward also stressed the College's commitment to improving and enhancing the ethnic, cultural and racial diversity of its student body and faculty. "We need to build on the recent successes we have had in this area and intensify our efforts," said Coward. "At the same time, my colleagues and I are working hard to ensure that our programs continue to be accessible for students of all socio-economic backgrounds." He told the Board that the College needs to expand and improve the number, kinds and variety of student scholarships as well.

 “We have been, and continue to be, scholars who are interested in applied human problems, and we are dedicated to seeking solutions that will improve the quality of your life.  Indeed, what our faculty does today, will touch your life tomorrow,” Coward said.

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Contact:  Amy Neil (814) 8650-7517 or e-mail at aen4@psu.edu