Penn State World Campus is "Penn State | Online." The World Campus was created for learners who could not participate in traditional classroom education. Our mission is to deliver Penn State degrees, certificates, and courses in convenient distance learning formats, and our organizational structure enables us to do just that.
Through a variety of services like online learner technical support or distance education faculty resources, our staff is dedicated to delivering high-quality educational programs online or at a distance.
Organizational Overview
As the head of World Campus at Penn State, Wayne Smutz leads the online campus, guiding its development and overseeing World Campus teams engaged in learning design, program management, student services, marketing, finance, and educational technology.
"From just 41 students in 1998, the World Campus has grown to more than 5,000 students worldwide. Our online enrollments are increasing each year, and we are continuing to add undergraduate and graduate credit and noncredit programs to the World Campus portfolio. One of the keys to the World Campus' success has been its integration into the University.
The World Campus serves as a delivery unit and works in partnership with the academic colleges to extend undergraduate and graduate degrees and professional certificate programs — all taught by Penn State faculty — to adult learners who otherwise do not have access to a Penn State education. The World Campus gives these learners the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and skills and apply what they are learning in their careers. The online learning format also helps make balancing career, family, and education responsibilities easier for adult learners."
In the video below, Smutz talks about the importance of online education at Penn State.
Wayne Smutz, Associate Vice President for Academic Outreach at Penn State
and Executive Director for Penn State World Campus
Director of Academic Affairs for Graduate Programs
Pete Rubba is responsible for advancing the graduate curriculum offered via the World Campus and associated relationships with Penn State academic partners. Dr. Rubba joined the World Campus in 2000 after 24 years as a faculty member in education and administrator — 8 at Southern Illinois University and 16 at Penn State — where he was extensively involved in outreach activities for science teachers. The iMBA was his first World Campus assignment. Since then he has led the addition of over 50 other Penn State degree and certificate programs to the World Campus curriculum. Rubba is a member of the Penn State Graduate Council, which approves and has oversight of all graduate programs offered by the University — both in residence and at a distance.
"Through the World Campus, students studying at a distance have online access to quality Penn State graduate programs. These programs are developed by the same faculty who offer them in residence, and are taught by those faculty or by other faculty approved by the respective academic unit. Truly, we are Penn State online."
Pete Rubba, Director of Academic Affairs for Graduate Affairs
Director of Academic Affairs for Undergraduate Programs
Karen Pollack manages the World Campus undergraduate portfolio in close partnership with the many Penn State colleges, campuses, and departments that develop and instruct undergraduate-level courses. Dr. Pollack joined the World Campus at the launch in 1998 and has held various roles since, including those of founding and senior program manager and associate director responsible for blended learning and intercampus relations, and has had responsibility in student and faculty affairs. In addition, she has held managerial and administrative positions at Penn State since 1991. Dr. Pollack is an adult learner herself, having earned a master's in telecommunications studies, and a doctorate in instructional systems as a part-time student.
"I really believe in the power of education to transform lives. As a team, we are committed to the singular goal of bringing a very high-quality Penn State educational experience within reach to a broad audience — particularly to those individuals not able to participate on-site or engage in full-time study. We strive to deliver an array of signature Penn State undergraduate programs that are learner-centric, where time and place are no longer barriers to participation."
Karen Pollack, Director of Academic Affairs for Undergraduate Affairs
The Adult Learner Enrollment Services team provides a full range of services, from financial aid information and academic advising, to assistance with the application process or disability services — plus evening and weekend support from the HelpDesk, available online or by telephone, to help solve technical problems related to courses, computer operating systems, Web browsers, and more.
"Our staff are very understanding of the time commitment an adult student has made to take courses or complete a certificate or degree program. As students strive to balance other life activities, we stand ready to assist them with their academic goals to make the path as smooth as possible."
Martha Jordan, Director of Adult Learner Enrollment Services
The Instructional Design and Development team formats the course content for the World Wide Web and works with those who create the content to ensure that standard course elements (such as a complete syllabus and clear lesson objectives, projects, and exams) are covered.
"As a full-service design and development organization, we work with Program Planning and Management to serve faculty, translating their teaching activities and instructional design models into courses that can be taught from a distance. This includes everything from the way they present course content and assign homework, to how they'll encourage discussion and interaction, establish methods for evaluation, and measure outcomes. We want our faculty to be successful — so they can help their online students reach their personal goals."
Larry Ragan, Director of Instructional Design and Development
The goal of the World Campus's division of Evaluation, Program Planning, and Management is to design and deliver educational programs online or at a distance that best meet the educational needs of its adult learners. Student feedback is an important source of information that contributes to recommendations for improving Penn State online programs and distance education student services. The data collected through this division's end-of-course and end-of-program surveys helps the World Campus provide the very best in online education.
"Our mission for evaluation is to provide guidance for continuous quality improvement in all aspects of Penn State's World Campus. We believe that evaluation should be formative, responsive, and timely in order to create an engaging, innovative, and high-performing learning environment."
Janet May, Associate Director of Evaluation
Penn State's World Campus fills a unique need for busy working adults — a convenient online degree, certificate, or course from a highly recognized and accredited university. Penn State has over 100 years of distance education experience, along with a wide array of student services to help create a fully supported online learning experience for busy working adults. The marketing team helps to conduct consumer and market research to help provide input for program development, generate awareness of World Campus and its offerings, and create high quality communications materials for prospective adult students.
"It is truly inspiring to hear how our adult students achieved their educational goals online through Penn State's World Campus while managing both a career and family. Our goals in the marketing team are to understand the specific needs of the adult learner and to communicate the benefits adult students can receive by considering the many fully-online programs that the World Campus has to offer. We understand that our adult students really are exceptional individuals who require the flexibility to pursue their education due to their hectic schedules either at work and/or at home."
Clarabelle Lin, Marketing Director
