Office of Undergraduate Education

Register now for the 2023 Student Engagement Summit

Now in its sixth year, the summit will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 18

The annual Student Engagement Summit brings together educators, stuff and administrators from across Penn State to learn about engagement strategies and challenges. Credit: Steve Tressler / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Registration is now open for the 2023 Student Engagement Summit, giving Penn State faculty, staff and graduate students the opportunity to learn more about strategies to promote student engagement, how engaged learning can address societal challenges, the role of engagement in creating positive student outcomes and more. 

"Nationally there is a trend of disengagement among students, and Penn State is not immune,” said Michael Zeman, director of the Student Engagement Network. “We are working with colleagues across the commonwealth to implement strategies that promote student agency. Together we can find ways to maximize student engagement and overcome the challenges we face. Student engagement can play a critical role as we address current University priorities and seek to broaden student success.” 

Now in its sixth year, the 2023 Summit will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18. The deadline to register is May 15. Details, including registration and a full description of sessions, can be found at sensummit.psu.edu

Student Engagement Summit sessions 

Larry Terry, vice president for Penn State Outreach, will present a keynote and panel alongside Natalie Hernandez DePalma, senior director for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and Dennis Shea, associate dean for Undergraduate Studies and Outreach, Penn State College of Health and Human Development. 

Morning sessions will be offered virtually so Penn Staters can attend without traveling to the University Park campus. 

At 10 a.m., attendees can choose between four sessions:  

  • Harnessing the Power of the Engagement App  

  • Community Engagement — What’s in it for Me? 

  • Working On Wellness Together Project: A Campus-Based Approach 

  • Engaging students on Career Readiness in the Classroom 

11 a.m. sessions will include: 

  • Academic Success Program: If You Teach a Student to Fish 

  • Quick Hits: Global Learning + Your Course = Global Engagement2 

  • Living Lab Projects: Engage, Connect, and Foster Belonging through Campus Sustainability Research 

  • From Why to How: Strategies for Closing the Gap between Intention and Engagement 

In the afternoon, a 1 p.m. session at University Park will feature a panel discussion with Yvonne Gaudelius, vice president and dean for Undergraduate Education; Andrea Dowhower, interim vice president for Student Affairs; and Larry Terry, vice president for Outreach. Penn State Berks will be hosting their own in-person session, Strategies to Engage Students in Critical Thinking. 

For more information on the 2023 Engagement Summit, visit sensummit.psu.edu.  

The Student Engagement Network is a joint initiative between Undergraduate Education, Student Affairs and Outreach and Online Education. The mission of the Student Engagement Network is to advance the power of participation by connecting students with experiences that empower them to make a positive impact as citizens and leaders of the world.  

 
 

Last Updated April 11, 2023