UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Outreach is collaborating with multiple units across the University to develop the Penn State Community Impact Map, an interactive and visual representation of Penn State’s contributions, benefits and offerings available across Pennsylvania. It is designed to geographically highlight the University’s commitment to its land-grant mission to provide education, research and public service to residents of the commonwealth and beyond.
The project originated with Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi, in coordination with the Board of Trustees Committee on Outreach, Development, and Community Relations (ODCR). Trustee and ODCR committee chair Rick Sokolov helped lead efforts to develop the map, working with Penn State Outreach’s leadership to illustrate Penn State’s impact in this new, interactive format.
“As Pennsylvania’s only land-grant institution, creating a positive impact on our commonwealth and its communities through outreach, education and service is at the heart of Penn State’s mission as a leader in higher education,” Bendapudi said. “Through our Commonwealth Campuses, Penn State Extension offices, Invent Penn State innovation network, community-focused public impact research, Penn State Outreach programs, and our partnerships with businesses and community organizations across the state, our University’s impact can truly be felt in every corner of Pennsylvania.”
Larry Terry, vice president for Penn State Outreach, said there are many potential uses for the Community Impact Map.
“Providing one resource with this information not only advances our land-grant mission and goal, but it also fulfills a Board of Trustees request and serves as an interactive, publicly accessible tool to enable greater connection with Pennsylvanians of all ages, locations and backgrounds,” Terry said.
Campuses, colleges, units, departments, centers and institutes working in the outreach and community engagement spaces are asked to submit activities for inclusion on the map. All activities entered via the activity submission form will be populated on the map scheduled to launch in fall 2024. It will include the ability to filter by campus, congressional and legislative districts, and more.
Data and activity submission guidelines:
-
The activity occurred after July 1, 2023.
-
Current and planned activities are welcome.
-
The activity occurs within Pennsylvania.
-
The location information describes where the activity occurs, not where the audience is located.
-
Virtual activities that are available to Pennsylvania residents.
Activity owners/who should submit data:
-
Activities should only be submitted by the unit or entity responsible for the activity.
-
Only the individual who submits the activity will have access to update or edit the activity details.
-
Activities that are co-owned with other units or teams should only be entered one time.
-
Creating an entry plan with activity co-owners is highly recommended to avoid duplicate entries.
Required information for activity submission:
- Activity name, description, location.
- Approximate number of individuals engaged on an annual basis.
- Affiliated campus, college, and partner(s).
- Primary point(s) of contact.
Submit activities for inclusion on the map here.
The Penn State Community Impact Map was created in collaboration with Continuing Education and Workforce Development; Penn State Outreach; University Libraries; Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses; Penn State Law; Dickinson Law; Penn State Health; College of Medicine; Office of the Senior Vice President for Research; Broader Impacts Committee; Office of Government and Community Relations; Strategic Communications; Penn State Extension; College of Agricultural Sciences; Faculty Affairs; K-12 Education; Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research; Penn State Sustainability; Invent Penn State; College of Education; Penn State Museum Consortium; and the Social Science Research Institute.