Virtual reality goggles with a choice of soothing environments or guided meditations, a color-changing bubble wall, a prayer area, Zen garden and massage chair: These are all options provided by Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s Counseling Services to help students relax and stay calm.
Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses and Westmoreland County Community College, building upon a long-standing relationship, have entered into a new articulation agreement designed to enhance educational opportunities and improve the rate at which students obtain undergraduate degrees in Pennsylvania.
Events are being offered for Penn State campus and community members around the commonwealth in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and their aftermath.
During high school, John Bunting was an introvert who didn’t get involved in many activities. That has changed now that he is in college and taking as many opportunities as come his way. Now in his second year at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Bunting is the president of Student Government Association and is involved in other clubs and campus activities. He balances those activities with his studies in cybersecurity and is also considering a business minor.
The Penn State Alumni Association (PSAA) has announced a $20,000 matching commitment that will grow the scholarship endowment recently established in honor of 2024 Renaissance Fund honorees Roger Williams, retired PSAA executive director, and his wife, Karen Magnuson, retired assistant director of University marketing. In recognition of the Renaissance Fund’s 55th anniversary, the PSAA will match gifts of $550 or more to any named Renaissance Fund with an equal contribution to the Roger L. Williams and Karen L. Magnuson Renaissance Fund.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre alumnus John Krohn has interned for a U.S. senator, served in the military in Iraq, worked to implement protection around energy infrastructure in Ukraine, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Today, he is the deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy.
Penn State Sustainability has partnered with CWC Continuing Education partners at Penn State Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Lehigh Valley to launch a brand new, online, non-credit certificate focused on sustainability. The synchronous, statewide, 12-week course starts on Sept. 9, with registration closing on Sept. 3.
While students are making last-minute purchases and plans before they start their academic year at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, personnel across campus are undertaking preparations of their own to get ready to welcome the students. It takes many people and a lot of coordination to prepare the classrooms, technology, buildings and grounds that students, faculty and staff use on a daily basis.
Penn State University Libraries’ Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) has named 13 recipients of the 2024 Faculty Engagement Award with this year’s theme of “Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Teaching.” Recipients will collaborate with TLT staff to identify potential uses, constraints and best practices for using generative AI for teaching purposes. Faculty will utilize available generative AI tools including Microsoft Copilot and Adobe Firefly to assist in content creation, course planning and content delivery.
Penn State Wilkes-Barre has announced its dean’s list for summer 2024. To be eligible, undergraduate students must achieve a one-semester grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.
