From
the Trustee Docket
Penn State Intercom......May
23, 2002
Interdisciplinary research at
forefront of national trend
The University's strategic focus on interdisciplinary research collaborations is bearing fruit and likely to make Penn State a leader in what is becoming a national trend, said Eva J. Pell, vice president for research and dean of The Graduate School, to the University's Board of Trustees on May 10.
"Contemporary research is rarely conducted by single investigators, or even in narrowly defined fields," Pell said. "As I attend conferences with peers from across the country, it is very clear that the future will be found more and more in interdisciplinary collaborations."
For the full story, check the Web at http://www.psu.edu/ur/2002/interdisciplinaryresearch.html.
Adult learners fostered from
coursework to family involvement
The University's student population is composed of people with a wide variety of needs, and adult learners are no exception. Claudia A. Limbert, campus executive officer at Penn State DuBois, and Charlene H. Harrison, director of the Center for Adult Learner Services informed the Board of Trustees on May 10 about the landscape of adult learning both nationally and at Penn State.
A study by The College Board indicates an increase in adult student enrollment at three-quarters of all colleges and universities nationwide, with most of these students studying part time. Further data reveals that between 1970 and 2000, the enrollment growth patterns between students age 18 to 24 and those 25 and older were markedly different.
For the full story, check the Web at http://www.psu.edu/ur/2002/adultlearners.html.
Association keeps
alumni connected
The Penn State Alumni Association is the largest dues-paying alumni association in the country with 146,000 members, and it has the nation's largest Life Membership Endowment.
In an informational report to the Board of Trustees on May 10, Richard Dugan, volunteer Alumni Association president and senior managing partner, Ernst & Young, discussed the association's recent initiatives and its continuing efforts to connect alumni with the University.
"The Alumni Association has never been stronger, bigger or better, and has never been more widely modeled around the country," said Dugan. "This year, we reached a new pinnacle by having the most living alumni -- 450,000 -- of any institution in the U.S."
For the full story, check the Web at http://www.psu.edu/ur/2002/alumniconnectedtoPS.html.
3 reappointed to
medical center's board
The Board of Trustees on May 10 approved the appointments of Donald M. Cook Jr., Marian U. Coppersmith Fredman and
Graham B. Spanier to continue as members of the Board of Directors of Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
For the full story, check the Web at http://www.psu.edu/ur/2002/hersheyboardappts.html.
Undergraduate
housing approved 
The Board of Trustees approved final plans for the new Eastview Terrace undergraduate housing complex at University Park and for a new library/auditorium at the York campus.
In other action, the trustees approved sketch/preliminary plans for projects at the Altoona and Erie campuses.
For the full story, check the Web at http://www.psu.edu/ur/2002/undergradhousing.html.
University announces
trustee election results
Penn State alumni, delegates of agricultural societies and delegates of industrial societies elected one new member and re-elected six incumbents to serve on the University's Board of Trustees.
For the full story, check the Web at http://www.psu.edu/ur/2002/trusteeselectionsmay02.html.