Penn State World Campus has announced the opening of its new virtual student center, which aims to connect online learners with the support they need to be successful.
The Roz and Gene Chaiken Center for Student Success at Penn State World Campus brings together the staff services from all student-facing and academic support departments with the robust resources that have been developed for Penn State World Campus students. The goal of the center is to guide and connect online learners to the resources and support they need, when they need it, as they progress through their academic journeys.
The center was made possible through the gift of Roz and Gene Chaiken, whose philanthropy has benefited many Penn State students, including with the creation in 2021 of the first student success center at the University bearing their name, the Chaiken Center for Student Success in the College of the Liberal Arts.
The Chaiken Center for Student Success at Penn State World Campus has been modeled on the College of the Liberal Arts’ center and tailored to meet the needs of the 19,000 online learners World Campus has all over the globe.
The World Campus Chaiken Center builds on the existing academic advising, student disability, and academic development services and places them under the same leadership. Dawn Coder, assistant vice provost for online student success, will lead the staff of the center.
“Gene and Roz Chaiken are visionaries in fostering student success, as they recognize that a wide variety of academic support is essential for students to achieve their goals, whether they are learning online or on campus,” said Renata Engel, the vice provost for Online Education at Penn State. “We are grateful to Gene and Roz Chaiken for investing in Penn State World Campus students, and we are eager to build on our current support with this virtual center that captures the essence of the Chaikens’ vision of communities of learners who are achieving their highest potential.”
The success of the College of the Liberal Arts Chaiken Center inspired the Chaikens to establish new centers to serve other populations of students within the University. In addition to the Penn State World Campus center, a Chaiken Center has been established in Undergraduate Studies, within the College of Information Sciences and Technology, and at Penn State Abington.
“We want all Penn State students to be empowered to reach their potential, to graduate, and to go on to have successful careers,” said Gene Chaiken. “In order for that to happen, they must have access to the kinds of support — like academic advising, tutoring, peer mentoring, and others — that can help them overcome the challenges that otherwise could slow their progress. We are excited to build on the robust support services that Penn State World Campus has been offering to its online learners and expand the opportunities to reach even more students.”
Penn State World Campus Chaiken Center initiatives
One of the first initiatives that will be developed through the Penn State World Campus Chaiken Center is an expansion of Smart Track to Success, an invitation-only scholarship program designed to help students with little or no college experience navigate their first semesters and gain confidence to continue their studies.
The program, which began in 2017, serves undergraduates across all majors. The first expansion of Smart Track to Success in 2024 focused on helping registered nurses returning to school to pursue their bachelor’s degrees in nursing.
The next expansion of the Smart Track to Success program is expected to open later in 2025 and will focus on building students’ skills in statistics, a subject many undergraduate students must take for their degree requirements.
Donors have generously endowed 12 scholarships for the Smart Track to Success program, and more than 330 students have received one of the scholarships to date.
The structure of the Penn State World Campus Chaiken Center has been designed to position staff to serve students at every step of their academic journeys, such as when they are prospective students considering their options, applying, enrolling, learning, engaging in the student community, and graduating.
The staff also will help them make connections with other services within World Campus, such as Student Affairs, career services, and enrollment management services.
“Online learners often juggle multiple responsibilities, from work and family commitments to financial pressures,” said Coder. “At the Penn State World Campus Chaiken Center for Student Success, we understand these unique challenges and are dedicated to providing the comprehensive support needed to help our students succeed. Our goal is to ensure that every student has the resources and guidance to overcome these obstacles and achieve their academic and professional goals."
Donors like Gene and Roz Chaiken advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach, and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients, and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting the Raise Penn State site.
Penn State World Campus has been providing a Penn State education online for more than 25 years, with a comprehensive selection of more than 200 degrees and certificates from Penn State’s academic colleges and campuses. Online learners have access to a wide variety of academic resources through the Penn State World Campus Chaiken Center.
Learn more about the services and programs available through the Penn State World Campus Chaiken Center by visiting its website.