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 Continuing and Distance Education at Penn State (including the World Campus), Wayne Smutz is committed to expanding and enhancing Penn State's leadership in the use of technology to extend education to adult learners worldwide.
"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."
Wayne Smutz, Associate Vice President for Academic Outreach
and Executive Director of Continuing and Distance Education
As the leader of Penn State's online campus, Ken Udas will oversee all of its various components—including program management, student services, marketing, finance, and technology—ensuring that the World Campus will continue to meet the needs of online learners. In addition, Ken will continue to forge partnerships and develop new initiatives to enhance Penn State's leadership position in the growing field of online education.
"I'd like to find a balance between continuing to meet all the operational needs of the World Campus student, but also create the bandwidth to expand our horizons. The online learning community is global and dynamic. No program and no institution can stand on its own and maintain its leadership role. Building partnerships, extending to colleagues globally, and learning from our partners are essential to success. Today's lifelong learners expect a quality, recognized education, coupled with a support structure and experience to achieve their goals. In my experience, there are only a handful of organizations that take distance learning at the level of seriousness that Penn State does.
"There is a great tradition here, a great institution that has developed a wonderful platform for innovation and success. Penn State University has the prestige and recognition to expand its presence throughout the world, and, I believe, the humility and self-awareness to learn from and respect the important work being done throughout the world, which is very exciting, and that's why I'm here."
Ken Udas, Executive Director of Penn State World Campus
Director Peter Rubba oversees and is responsible for all aspects of Penn State World Campus operations, keeping Penn State at the forefront of providing distance education programs of the highest caliber to students around the world.
"Our mission is to work in partnership with academic units to extend selected Penn State degrees and certificate programs online to adults worldwide. Students at a distance get the same quality programs, developed and taught by the same faculty who teach the courses on campus. We are Penn State online.
Penn State online students have the convenience to complete courses any time and anywhere they have access to the Web. As a professor of education, I especially appreciate the high degree of students to faculty and student to student interaction included in online courses. Students tell us in course and program evaluations that they value the active and collaborative learning environment."
Pete Rubba, Director of Academic 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 World Campus fills a unique need for busy working adults; a convenient online degree, certificate, or course from a highly recognized University. The marketing team creates appropriate communications materials for prospective students.
"Our goal is to communicate the benefits students receive when choosing from one of 50+ online education programs. Our students are truly exceptional individuals, juggling busy time and life commitments with their education. Penn State has over 100 years of distance education experience, along with a wide array of student services, that we believe creates a fully supported online learning experience for busy working adults."
Chris Walsh, Director of Marketing
