Welcome to the Commission for Adult Learners website. Penn State’s Commission for Adult Learners is composed of faculty, staff, and students from several University locations. Members are dedicated to improving the adult learner experience at Penn State.
“I started my Penn State experience in the fall of 2019. I spent the last 18 years running a state-licensed family daycare out of my home. I am a wife, mother of three, and a bonus mom of two. My oldest daughter has special needs, and that led me to pursue my degree in human development and family studies. I decided to close my daycare and become a full-time adult learner. At first, I was very overwhelmed with the idea of going back to college and computer work, but Penn State made every step of the way easy. My professors, advisers, classmates, and the HelpDesk have been there for me any time I am in need of support or encouragement.”
“Earning my bachelor’s degree as an adult learner at Penn State World Campus has presented many struggles; however, these struggles have led to exciting new career paths. Working full-time, taking classes, and serving our country isn’t for the faint of heart, but as Marcel Proust once said, ‘The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.'”
“With my transition out of the military, I knew I was ready for the next chapter in my life. Since a young age, I’ve always wanted to be a Nittany Lion, so Penn State was the obvious choice for me. The welcoming faculty and staff on campus have given me the tools necessary to be successful as an adult learner.”
“I feel like I was given a second life at Penn State. I was able to be involved in many out-of-class activities, which helped me grow and gain confidence. These activities included working as an orientation leader, student success coach, Lion Ambassador, and editor of the student news, as well as participating in THON. My crowning achievement, however, was building a multimedia news studio on campus and then using it for the student news. In short, I was able to thrive and discover a whole new person at Penn State.”
