HEPAC Programs

Please join us in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Higher Education Program and the 40th anniversary of the Center for the Study of Higher Education.  

HEPAC will be hosting an anniversary celebration at University Park, PA. Date and details to be announced soon, so please check back.

Events

The Higher Education Program Alumni Council (HEPAC) co-sponsors occasional events for alumni with the Higher Education Program, the College of Education, and the Penn State Alumni Association.

Mentoring

HEPAC co-sponsors a professional mentor program with the Higher Education Student Association (HESA). Any current student may request a professional mentor. This mentor is an alumna/us of the Program who will meet informally with the student (in person, by phone, over e-mail) to discuss career goals and professional interests. Mentors and students are matched by interests. To serve as a mentor, contact , HESA president.

Annual Fund Campaign

The HEPAC board of directors worked with the College of Education’s Office of Development, Public Relations, and Alumni Programs to distribute an annual fund campaign mailing in 2003 and hopes to assist with a second mailing in 2005. Funds raised through the campaign directly benefit the Higher Education Program.

One important way you can help HEPAC fulfill its purpose is by extending philanthropic support of the Program’s current students and faculty. Over the years, the following active funds have been established to support the Higher Education Program:

• General Program Support—Unrestricted funds directed toward the needs of the Higher Education Program, including, but not limited to, student travel, outside speakers, or student research (Robert E. Sweitzer Higher Education Program Fund).

• Student Dissertation Support—This endowed fund supports doctoral degree candidates in the Higher Education Program who are in the dissertation state of their studies (Martorana Family Award).

• Student Internship Support—This endowed fund supports advanced doctoral students in the Higher Education Program who undertake internships in Central Administration or College-level administrative offices at the University (Ostar Internship Endowment in Higher Education).

• Library Support—This fund is used to purchase books related to the history of higher education for the Higher Education Program library (Hans Flexner Memorial Award).

Each of these funds supports an important need of the Program. If you are interested in discussing other gift options or learning more about HEPAC, please contact the College of Education’s Office of Development and Alumni Programs at (814) 863-2146.

Future Programs

Additional programming ideas, such as developing ways in which Higher Education alumni can become involved in aspects of the Center’s research, and soliciting volunteers to serve as Alumni-Admissions volunteers on behalf of the Program for students from those regions considering the Higher Education Program at Penn State are in progress. Please let us know if you have ideas of how HEPAC can serve the Higher Education Program and its alumni!

For more information about HEPAC, contact the College of Education Office of Alumni Relations at 814-863-2216 or HEPAC president, Susan Richardson.