Outreach

14th Road Scholars tour to visit western Pa., Penn State sites

University Park, Pa. -- The annual Road Scholars spring tour for Penn State faculty, hosted by President Graham Spanier, is now accepting reservations for its May 11-13 trip across southwestern Pennsylvania. The deadline to register online -- at http://www.roadscholars.outreach.psu.edu -- is Monday, April 13.

The tour offers new and newly tenured faculty several dynamic opportunities to learn about Penn State and Pennsylvania as they travel to several University campuses and tour businesses and popular historic sites. What may also appeal to faculty attendees is the chance to establish relationships with colleagues across the University, while the itinerary connects them with Penn Staters and residents of the Commonwealth.

There is no cost for faculty to participate in this year's tour except for lunch in the Pittsburgh Strip District, one of the city's most popular spots for great food and nightlife. Once the tour has embarked, the University will provide all other lodging, transportation and meals. For participants not at University Park, each individual's college or department will be asked to cover any additional costs incurred, such as transportation to and from University Park and lodging there, if needed.

"The tour did three very important things for me. First, it gave me a better understanding of the impact that Outreach and Penn State have on the state Second, it helped me understand Penn State and the importance of the campuses. Third, meeting so many interesting people, fellow faculty and staff, actually made me even more excited about being at Penn State," according to a previous Road Scholars tour participant.

This year's participants will depart by charter bus from University Park to three University campuses and several other destinations, including:

  • Johnstown Flood National Memorial;
  • U.S. Steel Corporation, Mon Valley Works;
  • H.J. Heinz Innovation Center;
  • Allegheny County Courthouse Complex;
  • Dusquesne Club in Pittsburgh;
  • Penn State Electro-Optics Center in Freeport;
  • Creekside Mushroom Ltd. in Worthington; and
  • Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark in Altoona.

Photos from the 2008 tour, which traveled across central and southeastern Pennsylvania, are available at http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/1677, http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/1680 and http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/1681 online. Three short online videos and a photo journal chronicled the 2007 tour at http://www.outreach.psu.edu/programs/road-scholars/index-Gallery.html and http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/923, respectively.

Space on the tour is guaranteed to all faculty who have joined Penn State in the last two years and have not been on a Road Scholars tour before. Others may sign up for this tour on a space-available basis. For more information, contact Nancy Eckard at nzm1@psu.edu or Cindy Stearns at cas81@psu.edu.

The annual Road Scholars tour offers new faculty a chance to better understand Penn State and the significance of its campuses, learn about the impact of Penn State Outreach, and meet other colleagues at the University. Click on the image above to view a larger version of this year's tour map. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated November 18, 2010

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