PSU President Dr. Eric Barron visits Worthington Scranton
Dr. Eric J. Barron, named Penn State's 18th president by the Board of Trustees on Feb. 17, used the weeks before his official appointment on May 12 to travel to each of the commonwealth campuses with wife, Molly, and Dr. Madlyn Hanes, vice president of commonwealth campuses.
He visited Worthington Scranton on April 28, hearing first-hand from students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and community leaders and communicating his goals for the University, which include his "Six Imperatives" which he believes are areas every great university excels in. Those areas are: Excellence; Student Engagement; Diversity; Student Career Success and Economic Development; Accessibility; and Technology.
While he was here, those in attendance got to personally meet and speak with Dr. Barron, and used the opportunity to share examples of our campus' strengths and successes, many of which reflect his 'six imperatives.'
Dr. Barron, 62, was previously president of Florida State University since 2010. Prior to that, he held several notable positions within higher education, including dean of Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences from 2002 to 2006, having become a member of the Penn State faculty in 1986.
"Dr. Barron's visits to each of the Commonwealth campuses shows a genuine hands-on approach and interest in the work we, as an individual campus, are doing while also driving home the fact that Penn State truly is 'one University' made up of 24 campuses," said Dr. Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, PSWS chancellor.
"For us at Worthington Scranton , it was a very positive and reassuring experience that reinforced all of the positive things about Penn State and the things we are doing right here at Worthington Scranton that contribute to both our campus' and the University's success."
PSWS now offering B.A. in Corporate Communication
Total number of four-year degrees now available at campus increases to eight
Students enrolling at Penn State Worthington Scranton now have another four-year degree option from which to choose. Starting with the 2014-15 academic year, PSWS will begin offering a Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate Communication.
This degree is distinguished by its cross-disciplinary coursework in business, information systems and human behavior, along with oral, written and visual communication skills. In addition, courses will be offered in ethics and psychology. Students will receive a broad foundation in business principles to help them become effective communicators in a professional setting.
Worthington Scranton's Career Services Department will work with these students to help them find internships with regional businesses and organizations that will provide them with real-world job experience.
In addition to the baccalaureate degree program, the campus' Continuing Education Department will be offering a Corporate Communication Certificate to working professionals who already have a degree in a particular profession who want to further increase their knowledge and skill base by adding specialized communication skills.
