Student Life

"My experiences as a student leader at Penn State allowed me to learn a great deal about myself and discover my true passion for humanity and society. With the leadership positions I was afforded, I saw firsthand the difference you can make when you speak up for what you believe. The lessons I learned and the opportunities I was granted at Penn State serve as the foundation for my future as a community leader."

Christian Ragland, '11 Lib, graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science. As a student, he served as the University Park Undergraduate Association student body president and Student Life and Diversity chairman for the 2010-11 term. Christian hopes to attend both law school and seminary before pursuing a career as a public attorney and serving as an active community leader.

Students will thrive in a stimulating atmosphere that fosters global involvement, community service, creative expression, and personal growth

Undergraduates are the center of the Penn State community, and they are also its strength. Through involvement with extracurricular groups, intramural and intercollegiate athletics, and other organizations, Penn State students create a vibrant campus environment that reinforces and complements the classroom experience. They also learn the importance of responsibility, community, and integrity—values that connect them with generations of alumni. Our graduates are increasingly defining their responsibilities as citizens in global terms, and they serve as ambassadors for the University to the world. With private support, we can expand our opportunities outside the classroom and create an environment in which every member of our diverse student population can discover their own potential for leadership.

To help our students become even stronger leaders and global citizens, the University, our campuses, and our colleges have set objectives to:

• prepare students for global citizenship by introducing new courses and expanding internship opportunities;
• provide leadership training for student organization officers and student training on wellness, safety, diversity, and other important topics;
• integrate study abroad, course-related travel, and overseas research opportunities with curricular offerings and initiatives, to create meaningful connections between a student's course of study at Penn State and international experiences;
• award grants to students for service learning and public scholarship (community projects that incorporate both service and student research).