Penn State to co-host 'Opportunity Institute' June 10-12

Teams have the option to participate remotely or in person at two campus locations: Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State University Park
People collaborating on a project at a table

Teams gathered at Penn State Harrisburg to work on their projects during the 2023 Summer Institute on Equity in the Academic Experience. 

Credit: Penn State Harrisburg

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State will join Georgetown University to co-host the "2024 Opportunity Institute: Colleges and Universities Working to Improve the Student Academic Experience and Outcomes" from June 10-12.  

The institute is sponsored by the American Talent Initiative, Ithaka S+R and the Aspen Institute and hosted in partnership with Georgetown University and Penn State. It is open to faculty, staff, administrators and students from colleges and universities nationwide. Penn State will host the institute at both Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State University Park campuses. Participants can choose to attend virtually or in person at the Penn State locations, Georgetown University or several other regional host sites across the nation. 

The institute is free to attend; in-person participants must cover their own travel expenses. Colleges and universities are encouraged to form teams to participate in the institute. 

“This new institute is a great opportunity to collaborate with peers inside Penn State and with peers from other institutions,” said Alan Rieck, associate vice provost and associate dean for undergraduate education and co-lead of the institute at Penn State. “We are all committed to student success and are passionate about helping our students to thrive. I look forward to sharing ideas and learning from my colleagues across the country.” 

Rieck and Roderick Lee, associate professor of information systems at Penn State Harrisburg, lead Penn State’s role in planning and participating in the new institute. Participants in the institute will include teams of faculty, staff, students and administrators from campuses across the country who are asked to “come with an idea, leave with a strategy.” The institute will feature a series of synchronous and asynchronous provocation talks, panels, expert coaching and design frameworks to inform and guide the work of the teams. 

“We are pleased that Penn State Harrisburg, through this new initiative, can play an important role in enhancing the educational experience for all students," said Interim Chancellor and Dean of Penn State Harrisburg David M. Callejo Pérez. "We look forward to joining with colleagues from throughout Penn State and from institutions around the nation in this effort to keep students at the center of all that we do.” 

Registration opened on March 1 and is available here. Faculty, staff, students and administrators from Penn State campuses and regional institutions are encouraged to start forming teams to participate in the institute. 

Penn State’s participation in the "Opportunity Institute" is coordinated by Penn State Harrisburg, Undergraduate Education, the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses and the Office of Educational Equity.