Penn State New Kensington instructor Ted Lucida works with students in the new Biomedical Engineering Technology lab, which houses one of only two student Intensive Care Units in the country. The lab is a part of the virtual tour of the campus.
Online feature highlights campus
students, facilities and activities
UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Penn State New Kensington’s interactive virtual tour was updated and expanded to feature the new construction projects that were completed in the fall. The online tour highlights campus students, facilities and activities. Since it was unveiled in fall 2013, more than 2,200 people from around the world have taken a virtual tour of the campus.
While an in-person visit to the campus provides the optimal perspective, prospective students can get a feel for the campus via a home computer or mobile app. After previewing the campus, future Penn Staters can use the navigation buttons to schedule a visit or apply online. The tour is available in English and Spanish languages.
“This is a great tool for our (admissions) office,” said Corinne Coulson, enrollment specialist at the campus. “It can be utilized during our school visits, college fairs and other recruitment activities.”
Users can explore different areas of the 72-acre campus using four tour options -- walking; panoramic view; videos; and photos. The guided walking tour starts at the Lion Shrine and continues to 19 other campus hot spots, including the Junction, Art Gallery, Computer Center, Forum Theatre, Conference Center, Café 780 and Athletics Center.
The Junction and Athletics Center were renovated over the summer and were ready for the fall 2014 semester. Located in the lobby of the main entrance, the new coffee bar has the look of a mini-Starbucks and serves Starbucks products. Among the improvements to the Athletics Center were air conditioning for the basketball court, wrestling room, racquetball court and the new Pilates/yoga room. The Athletics Center also houses a fitness center, with heavy equipment, and a cardiovascular room with light equipment.
New to the guided tour are the Biomedical Engineering Technology (BET) and Radiological Sciences (RadSci) classroom and labs. Renovations to the areas allow for more hands-on instruction. The new equipment for the BET program includes an upgraded student Intensive Care Unit, which is one of only two fully-equipped student ICUs in the United States. Healthcare providers rely on BET graduates to operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair medical equipment. Contemporary imaging equipment for the RadSci program gives students the opportunity to work with medical equipment that is currently used in hospitals. Radiographers provide patient care using safe radiation practices, operate sophisticated technical equipment and make independent judgments and decisions daily.
The Panoramic tour provides 360-degree views of campus facilities. The Academic and Student Success Center, Elizabeth S. Blissell Library, and Nittany Highland Apartments are among the 21 campus venues. The virtual tour features students, faculty and staff and highlights the quality of academic programs and the variety of student extracurricular activities.
There is a gallery of 50 photos that feature the reconstructed Café 780 court yard, the iconic arch that overlooks the campus entrance off State Rt. 780 and the Larry R. Pollock Fountain, as well as a myriad of campus students. To give the courtyard a more intimate feel, a pergola was constructed by the side entrance of the courtyard. Also known as an arbor, a pergola is a type of gazebo that features a shaded sitting area of vertical posts and cross-beams supporting an open lattice. The lattice will be covered with woody vines. The courtyard also features a fire pit, along with new furniture and benches. Chancellor Kevin Snider is already utilizing the pit for a series of fireside chats with campus students.
In addition to helping prospective students, the website can be a useful tool for former students who can see how the campus has changed since their “glory” days. Alumni who haven’t been back to the campus in a while will be pleasantly surprised by the expansion of bachelor’s programs, the upgrades to labs and classrooms, and development of athletic facilities and teams, as well as external improvements, including landscaping and a redesigned parking lot entrance.
To experience the interactive virtual tour, visit www.nk.psu.edu/virtualtour