Breakout Session Summaries - Hendrick Best Practices for Adult

Tuesday, May 12, 2015
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
HUB-Robeson Center, University Park, PA
Welcome and 2015 Shirley Hendrick Award Recipient, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Our 2015 Shirley Hendrick Award Recipient will share accomplishments based on the work
furthering the strategic development and delivery of outreach programs, encouraging a culture of
academic freedom, innovation, and collaboration, providing visionary leadership, and
communicating the importance of Outreach internally and externally.
Breakout Session 1, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
Adult Learner Access and Affordability
A panel discussion by the Commission for Adult Learners’ Access and Affordability Task Force
regarding barriers of accessibility and affordability for adult learners at Penn State. Ideas for
making Penn State more accessible and affordable to adult learners will be discussed.
Participants will be encouraged to join the discussion and help develop recommendations on this
important issue.
Presenters: Francis Achampong, Chancellor, Penn State Mont Alto; Brooke Repine, Student Aid
Coordinator, University Park; Daad Rizk, Financial Literacy Coordinator, University Park;
Jamie Campbell, Assistant Dean, Diversity Enhancement Programs, University Park; Jo Anne
Carrick, Campus Director, Penn State Shenango; Kelly Austin, Chancellor, Penn State
Schuylkill; Kenneth Womack, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Penn State Altoona
Adult Education Boot Camp - Basic Information to Ensure Veterans’ Success
Supporting the military and veteran students across the University can be challenging, and
familiarity with the programs and services available at both the university and community levels
can help. Members of the Commission for Adult Learners’ Military and Veteran Support Services
Committee will share current veteran student information, university-wide programs and
initiatives, community resources, and demonstrate how this information aligns with Dr. Barron’s
imperatives. This session will be beneficial for those faculty and staff members new to Penn State
and to those who would like to learn more about the variety and breadth of available services
offered for veteran/active duty students.
Presenters: Renee Thornton-Roop, Veterans Counselor/Certifying Official, Penn State Office of
Veterans Programs; Sueann Doran, Adult Student and Veteran Services Coordinator/Continuing
Education, Penn State DuBois
All About Portfolios
This session will outline the latest developments on using the Credit by Portfolio process to
award credit. The current policy and procedure, best practices, and success stories will be
presented followed by a discussion and presentation on future possibilities. You should attend if
you: receive requests for credit by portfolio, need a better understanding of the credit by portfolio
process, or would like more information on using portfolios for credit.
Presenters: Albert Lozano, Director of Academic Affairs, Penn State Wilkes-Barre; Michele
Rice, Director of Prior Learning Assessment, University Park; Pat Shope, Prior Learning
Assessment Coordinator, University Park; Terry Speicher, Assistant Professor of
Engineering/Engineering, Business and Computing Division, Penn State Berks; Diana
Gruendler, Senior Lecturer, College of the Liberal Arts, University Park
Course Substitution Request System Progress Update
This session will review the existing and upcoming functionality of the Course Substitution
Request System (CSRS). Current functionality supports workflow approval routings, provides
access to supporting transcript and transfer information, and facilitates communications using
processes defined by the colleges; however, there are additional features planned for 2015. The
panel will discuss how the proposed features will affect both traditional and non-traditional
learners across Penn State.
Presenters: Brian Beiswenger, IT Manager, ITS, University Park; Carolyn Jensen, Academic
Advising Manager, Eberly College of Science, University Park; Cheryl Seybold Director,
Solutions, Support and Services, ITS, University Park; Gina Baird, College Registrar, Altoona
Campus; Kristina Bryan, Transfer Credit Specialist, World Campus; Penny Carlson, Executive
Director, Academic Services and Assessment (OVPCC), Commonwealth Campuses; Scott
Reid, Senior Programmer/Analyst ITS, University Park
Creation of New Academic Programs at the Commonwealth Campuses
This session will review the process by which the University adds new academic programs to
Commonwealth Campuses. The presentation will demonstrate the process, including a review of
the market analysis for potential programs, a comprehensive needs analysis, a budget model for
the program, the curricular proposal, the University’s review/approval process, and a fourth-year
probationary review. Special attention will be paid to shared academic programs, which rely on
instructional technology to share courses and academic content across multiple campus locations.
Presenter: David Christiansen, Associate Vice President for the Commonwealth Campuses and
Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs
The New Age of Learning Flow
The future of adult student populations will shift from the independent learners of Gen X, to the
deeply networked digital natives known as the Millennials, to the still forming and adapting
Homeland/Gen Z. This session will explore what it takes to meet and exceed the learning
expectations of the Millennials, and how they will, in turn, shape the future of higher education.
Presenter: Rose Cameron, Director of Innovation, Outreach and Online Education
Breakout Session 2, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Adult Learner Access and Affordability
A panel discussion by the Commission for Adult Learners’ Access and Affordability Task Force
regarding barriers of accessibility and affordability for adult learners at Penn State. Ideas for
making Penn State more accessible and affordable to adult learners will be discussed.
Participants will be encouraged to join the discussion and help develop recommendations on this
important issue.
Presenters: Francis Achampong, Chancellor, Penn State Mont Alto; Brooke Repine, Student Aid
Coordinator, University Park; Daad Rizk, Financial Literacy Coordinator, University Park;
Jamie Campbell, Assistant Dean, Diversity Enhancement Programs, University Park; Jo Anne
Carrick, Campus Director, Penn State Shenango; Kelly Austin, Chancellor, Penn State
Schuylkill; Kenneth Womack, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Penn State Altoona
All About Portfolios
This session will outline the latest developments on using the Credit by Portfolio process to
award credit. The current policy and procedure, best practices, and success stories will be
presented followed by a discussion and presentation on future possibilities. You should attend if
you: receive requests for credit by portfolio, need a better understanding of the credit by portfolio
process, or would like more information on using portfolios for credit.
Presenters: Albert Lozano, Director of Academic Affairs, Penn State Wilkes-Barre; Michele
Rice, Director of Prior Learning Assessment, University Park; Pat Shope, Prior Learning
Assessment Coordinator, University Park; Terry Speicher, Assistant Professor of
Engineering/Engineering, Business and Computing Division, Penn State Berks, Diana
Gruendler, Senior Lecturer, College of the Liberal Arts, University Park
Gen Education Revision and the Impact on Adult Students
In May of 2013, the General Education Task Force was charged by University administration
and the Faculty Senate to review the current general education requirement at Penn State and
make recommendations for its revision. This session will be a panel discussion about general
education and its impact on the adult learner population. Attendees will be encouraged to share
comments and suggestions on how revisions to the general education curriculum requirements
might best serve Penn State’s adult population.
Facilitator: Paula Milone-Nuzzo, Dean and Professor, School of Nursing, University Park;
Presenters: Peggy N. Van Meter, Associate Professor of Education, University Park; Janet
Schulenberg, Associate Director, Division of Undergraduate Studies, University Park; Marie J.
Lindhorst, Advising Program Coordinator, World Campus; Norah P. Shultz, Senior Associate
Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Sociology, Penn State Abington
Panel Discussion on Veterans and Military Students
This interactive discussion will give participants the opportunity to ask questions of a panel of
staff who work with veteran and military students across the University. The panel expertise
will cover admissions, advising, disability services, financial aid, tuition assistance, GI Bill
benefits, veteran organizations, and other military/veteran resources as addressed. Please come
to the session with questions and best practices.
Presenters: Sueann Doran, Adult Student and Veteran Services, Penn State DuBois
(moderator); Apryl Kadish, Adult/Transfer/Veteran Admissions Counselor, Penn State Fayette;
Maggie Kwok, Military Academic Advisor and Military Disability Contact Liaison, World
Campus; Renee Thornton-Roop, Veteran Counselor/Certifying Official, Office of Veterans
Programs, University Park; Terry Watson, Disability Contact Liaison, World Campus
Putting Out the Welcome Mat: Penn State Berks Initiatives That Invite, Encourage, and
Engage Adult Learners
Nationally, for over two decades, adult students have comprised close to forty percent of the
college population (American Council on Education). These students are faced with challenges
that make it difficult for them to start, stay, and succeed in college. Their transition may be
especially difficult at campuses where a majority of the students are traditional age. This session
will focus on the organization, implementation, and assessment of initiatives at Penn State Berks
that are designed to improve the adult learner experience including but not limited to creating
adult scholarships, an adult New Student Orientation, an adult student lounge, online adult
student resources, becoming a Military Friendly campus, and assessing prior learning
experiences. This 'nuts & bolts' session will provide participants with useful information to
implement similar programs elsewhere and will discuss the hurdles that had to be overcome in
order to achieve implementation.
Presenters: Martha W. Aynardi, Director of Academic Support and Projects, Penn State Berks;
Walt Fullam, Director, Continuing Education, Penn State Berks; Natalie Bartush, Admissions
Counselor, Penn State Berks
Registration and Beyond – A Panel Discussion
Have you ever wondered how to help students enroll into World Campus courses? Or who they
can turn to if they have questions about their bill or financial aid? This collaborative discussion
allows participants to ask questions of a panel of staff that help students through the registration
process and beyond. Our panel will include representatives from World Campus Registrar,
Bursar, Financial Aid and Advising teams. Please come to this session with questions for the
panel.
Presenters: Monica Mahoney, Campus Registrar, World Campus; Linda Fultz, Accountant,
Bursar, World Campus; Sonya Leitzell, Associate Director, Program Planning and
Management, World Campus; Matt Rupert, Advising Program Coordinator, World Campus;
Sarah Zipf, Associate Director of Compliance and Financial Aid, World Campus