Jeff Kochel grew up on the grounds of Penn State Behrend. He and his wife, Pam, have endowed an undergraduate research fund that will support students in the Biology major at the college.
Three families with ties to Penn State Behrend have created scholarships that will support educational equity at the college. Their endowed gifts will directly support students whose gender, race or cultural background contributes to the diversity of Behrend’s student body.
Penn State has decided to delay the start of in-person classes and transition to a fully remote learning environment for the beginning of the spring 2021 semester at all campus locations. This decision was made following extensive analysis and scenario planning given worsening virus conditions nationally and across the state indicating predictions of rising hospitalization rates in the coming weeks.
Three leaders of Erie’s health and business communities have been appointed to the Board of Directors for Penn State Behrend’s Council of Fellows, which advises Chancellor Ralph Ford and the campus leadership team on strategic direction for the College.
Plans for Penn State’s Spring 2021 semester, announced Oct. 4, include a later start in January; continuation of the current flexible instructional modes, including in-person; the elimination of spring break; and completion of instruction for all undergraduate and graduate students by April 30. The University will maintain its observance of Martin Luther King Jr. day on Jan. 18 for students and faculty, when no classes will be held and Dr. King’s legacy will be celebrated through a number of virtual events.
Ed Auslander, the retired president and chief executive officer of LORD Corporation, has endowed an early career professorship at Penn State Behrend. The gift will honor the late faculty member Chester "Chet" L. Wolford.
The multi-campus research team of Ashkan Negahban, Omar Ashour and Sabahattin Gokhan Ozden received a three-year, $831,276 grant for research on immersive simulation-based learning models.
Following a three-month comprehensive planning process, Penn State officials have determined that the University can meet or exceed the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s guidelines for colleges and universities, and look forward to welcoming back faculty, staff and students to resume on-campus, in-person classes and other activities this fall in a limited fashion.
Penn State Behrend alumnus Justin R. Bloyd and his company, RB Sigma, LLC, have made a gift of $25,000 to the college's Student Hardship Fund. Bloyd also gave $10,000 to the Black School of Business, where he has served as an Executive in Residence.