The PSUAC Executive Committee voted unanimously to cancel all intercollegiate athletics competition for fall and winter team sports during the 2020-21 academic year. The sports affected by this decision include men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball, at Penn State Beaver, Brandywine, DuBois, Fayette, Hazleton, Greater Allegheny, Lehigh Valley, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Scranton, Schuylkill, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York.
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.
The American Physical Therapy Association has honored Jennifer Jewell as the 2020 F.A. Davis Award for Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Education for her commitment to experiential learning and serving as a leader in the Penn State physical therapy community.
Penn State has updated its public COVID-19 dashboard with the University's on-demand testing and random testing results from tests administered during the period of Nov. 20 to 22, as well as new University testing results from the prior week. As of Nov. 23 at University Park, there are 348 active student cases, up from 318 at the last update on Nov. 20, and 4,462 students have completed their isolation period and are no longer active cases.
The Board of Trustees Committee on Finance, Business and Capital planning advanced a proposal to renovate Penn State Shenango’s Forker Laboratory building on Nov. 12.
Penn State Shenango’s VenturePointe Innovation Hub will host Chris Becker of G.W. Becker Inc. on Nov. 19. Becker will discuss how the essential business has adapted during these challenging times, and how they are preparing for the “long haul.”
In preparation for the departure from campuses after in-person instruction ends on Nov. 20, Penn State has announced an aggressive fall departure plan offering all students COVID-19 testing, at no cost to students. Penn State is partnering with Vault Health for departure testing, which will be conducted either in person at predetermined testing sites on certain campuses or via self-administered test kits. Students can now book their appointment to receive an administered test or to pick up a self-test by using the Return Home Event on the Penn State Go App or by visiting virusinfo.psu.edu/departure-testing.
Penn State Laureate David Witwer will present “Searching for Jimmy Hoffa: The Disappearance of America’s Most Notorious Labor Leader and Why It Still Matters Today” at 12:15 p.m. on Nov. 12. During the talk, Witwer will explore the life and cultural phenomena surrounding the labor leader’s 1975 disappearance.
Penn State Shenango’s VenturePointe Innovation Hub will explore how OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Science Center for Science & Technology has strategically served its community throughout the pandemic, and how it is planning for the museum’s next steps. The presentation will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 22.
Penn State Shenango announces 2020-21 Lecture Series topics. October’s lecture, “Pandemic Perspectives from Local Health Professionals,” will feature panelists from varying positions in the health care industry. This year’s series will be held virtually and is open to the public.