When more than 44,000 students arrive at Penn State's University Park campus in late August -- more than 7,500 of whom are calling campus home for the first time -- it's not only the beginning of a new academic year for faculty and students. It's also the culmination of months of staff collaboration to get all aspects of Penn State ready for a fresh start. "We start having regular meetings in March for August arrival," said Conal Carr, director of housing. "It's about allowing students and families to have the best possible experience moving on campus." For housing and other departments across campus, hundreds of tasks must be completed, often in a very short time, before students arrive and classes begin.

Penn State's Board of Trustees Friday (Nov. 5) approved an $11.7 million renovation of Pollock Dining Commons on Penn State's University Park campus. Renovations to the commons are scheduled for completion in August 2011. Al Horvath, senior vice president for finance and business and treasurer at Penn State, said the 26,600-square-foot space will be fully renovated to reflect the latest trends in food presentation, preparation and overall dining environment.