LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. — W. Charles Patrick, chancellor and chief academic officer of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, will retire effective June 28. An interim plan will be forthcoming.
“After a decade in the position, Charles Patrick has accomplished much and has established himself as a dedicated leader that works diligently to support faculty, staff and student success,” said Margo DelliCarpini, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. “His leadership and commitment leave a lasting, positive impact on the campus and broader community. He will be dearly missed, but we wish him a long, full and happy retirement with his family!”
Patrick said, in reflection to his time on campus, “It’s important to recognize there were programs here before my arrival that were very successful, namely nursing and business. My job is not just to introduce new programs but to enhance them as well."
Under Patrick's guidance, the Fayette campus introduced a myriad of academic programs and renovations that greatly enhanced student life facilities. At the start of his tenure, the campus had only four nursing faculty members, a number that has since increased to seven.
“A new program that’s been successful is Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology (EMET)," Patrick said. "It’s a specific yet general engineering degree that wraps around both mechanics and electronics, which is the function of much that we deal with today. This program enables students in the region to find jobs within Fayette County, and there are several places in the region where EMET is critical, such as Advanced Acoustic Concepts, Boeing, and Johnson Matthey.”
Enhancing facilities
Under his leadership, Penn State Fayette saw a renovation to its Engineering and Arts Suite on the third floor of the Eberly Building, funded by Capital Renewal. The suite houses four traditional classrooms, one computer lab, two engineering labs to simulate industrial environments, and six Ultimaker 3-D printers. Nathaniel Bohna, associate teaching professor of engineering, secured multiple grants to enhance the engineering program with new technology.
Centralized funding helped renovate what became the Student Success Center in the Williams Building, allowing the Fayette campus to bring tutoring, the registrar and advising into a centralized location alongside mental health counseling, student affairs, the student nurse and the office of academic affairs.
“When I came in, there were a lot of student services that were spread across the campus and didn’t connect well,” Patrick said. "It’s a very welcoming place where students now gather in great numbers."