UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ? Penn State's Video Learning Network (VLN) started in 2010 as an outreach course delivery unit offering one course to 14 students enrolled at two campuses. By 2013, the VLN was partnering with Penn State's 17 Commonwealth Campuses and School of Nursing, and delivering courses to 116 new Pennsylvania adult learners in 28 identically equipped technology classrooms. To enable more adults to earn a Penn State degree close to home, the VLN is adding courses for accelerated bachelor's degrees in nursing and business this fall.
"Our mission is to serve Pennsylvania adult learners who need to earn credentials and degrees at their hometown Penn State campus," said VLN Director Rosemarie Piccioni. "Every credit has to count, so our courses run for seven-and-a-half weeks to more easily fit adults' schedules."
Penn State's School of Nursing offers the registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing program, which was piloted to central and western campuses and will be expanded through the VLN to eastern campuses.
Penn State Schuylkill Nursing faculty will teach RN to B.S. courses, which will originate from the campus and be broadcast on Fridays to the Berks and Brandywine campuses. RNs will be able to complete the program in 10.5 months, based on credits already earned.
Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses offer the intercollege bachelor of science degree in business. Two business courses will originate and be broadcast from Penn State Brandywine through the VLN on Saturdays to Penn State locations statewide.
by Geoff Rushlau