INFORMATION SESSION AND DINNER
4:45 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 9, Conference Center
Guest Speaker: Tim Conley, Chief Master Sergeant (ret.), United States Air Force.
Realizing that there are many challenges associated with the decision of veterans to start or return to college, an information session and dinner is set for 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in the Conference Center at Penn State New Kensington.
The Veterans Open House is geared to nontraditional students, those classified as at least 24 years old, who are looking for a career change or seeking additional education. The program provides prospective adult students with information on the various certificate, associate, and baccalaureate programs offered at Penn State New Kensington and tips on how to finance a Penn State education.
There are numerous academic options available to veterans, including: selecting from more than 200 noncredit, certificate and degree programs; choosing full- or part-time status; and scheduling day or evening classes. The enrollment management staff at the campus will be on-hand to assist prospective students with application forms, and application fees will be waived during the open house.
Dinner begins at 5 p.m., and the program follows at 6 p.m. An optional tour of the campus is available at 4 p.m. The Air Force Junior ROTC of Plum High School will post the colors at the beginning of the program. The dinner and program are free to the public.
The special guest speaker is Penn State alumnus Tim Conley, a retired chief master sergeant in the United States Air Force. The Pittsburgh native earned a degree in forest technology before joining the Air Force in 1981. Prior to retirement in 2008, he was superintendent of Aerospace Education and Training and manager of the Air Force Enlisted Career Field at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. Conley is currently the ROTC aerospace instructor at Plum.
Veterans and adult learners, who comprise approximately 29 percent of the Penn State New Kensington student population, have their own space on the campus at the Adult Learner Resource Center and Lounge, which is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. The lounge includes a small library of resource books, coffee maker, refrigerator, microwave, a computer and printer, white board, table and chairs for small group study and comfortable chairs for relaxation. Penn State New Kensington strives to support these students in reaching their academic goals while maintaining a healthy life balance.
Veterans who have served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, can have their tuition costs covered by the program that enables Penn State to share tuition costs with the Veterans Administration.
For more information or to reserve a spot at the open house, call 724-334-LION or 888-968-PAWS.
For more on the Veterans Administration's Yellow Ribbon program, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Yellow_ribbon.htm