UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State will celebrate its ninth GivingTuesday on Tuesday, Nov. 28 — and the College of Health and Human Development (HHD) invites alumni and friends to participate by showing support for the college’s Engaged Learning Fund.

“HHD is committed to advancing opportunities to enhance our student’s classroom-based skills, knowledge and experience," explained HHD’s Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Outreach Dennis Shea. "Internships, study abroad experiences, and faculty-run research projects are critical to our student’s success, but despite the vital role they play in professional development, the majority of these opportunities are unpaid. The cost of housing, groceries, professional attire and basic travel expenses often put these experiences out of reach. The Engaged Learning Fund helps defray these costs and ensure students can afford to accept the most appropriate and fulfilling engaged learning experiences.

“Gifts on GivingTuesday will strengthen HHD’s capacity to provide student support and ensure that graduates are able to accept the most appropriate and most fulfilling engaged learning experiences," said Shea.

HHD uses the term “engaged learning” to emphasize the curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular programs built to enrich the HHD experience for students. Many of these programs are known as “high-impact” programs with proven ties to student retention and student success. These experiences are some of the greatest opportunities for students to explore their interests, build their resumes and apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world settings. This is why they are a required component for most HHD majors. However, despite these requirements, only 57% of HHD students complete an internship as part of their degree program. The Engaged Learning Fund is HHD’s best tool to combat this disparity.

This year, HHD is doubling its efforts in hopes of making this GivingTuesday the most impactful one yet. HHD’s Alumni Society Board has endorsed this year’s fundraiser, encouraging the college’s closest friends and alumni to help compound their efforts. Caitlin Yelinek, a 2009 hotel, restaurant and institutional management graduate and the elected president of HHD’s Alumni Society Board, explained that the fund is the college’s way to help ensure students are able to take advantage of the opportunities provided to them.

“Because of the vital role these funds play for student success, the board plans to lead by example, expecting 100% board member support during GivingTuesday this year," she said.

Although GivingTuesday takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 28, Penn State’s celebration is kicking off early on Monday, Nov. 27, at 18:55 (6:55 p.m. EST) — a nod to the year in which the University was founded. Those interested in contributing to HHD’s Engaged Learning Fund or establishing a personal fundraising page as a campaign champion can learn more here.

Shea said he hopes that HHD’s strong community of supports will turn out for this year’s GivingTuesday.

“We want to put students in the room with leaders in their field and to bring those leaders to campus; to provide the opportunity for students to develop the global and cultural skills to connect with patients, clients and customers from every corner of the world; and to prepare students with the social and emotional skills to build long-lasting relationships and the analytic skills to build innovative solutions to complex problems," he said. "The Engaged Learning Fund is how we provide our students with the resources they need. With the help of our supporters, we can ensure that every HHD student to has the opportunity for the complete Penn State experience, both inside and outside the classroom.”  

Gifts made on GivingTuesday advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.