ERIE, Pa. — Penn State Behrend’s new strategic plan deepens the college’s commitment to the Open Lab model of learning, which emphasizes relevant, real-world engagement through internships, sponsored industry projects and undergraduate research experiences.
The five-year plan also leverages Behrend’s expertise in artificial intelligence, creating a dynamic AI learning hub that supports workforce training and collaborative community projects.
“The Open Lab shapes how we teach and how we serve as the anchor research institution for the region,” Chancellor Ralph Ford said. “This isn’t just a theoretical model. It is our strategic identity.”
The plan, “Vision for Impact: The Open Lab Institution,” aligns with the Penn State Strategic Plan. It builds on five bold commitments:
A high-impact academic portfolio
Using data-informed reviews, the college will ensure that its academic programs are strategically aligned for the future. Field-specific AI literacy will be required in all programs.
“We will invest in high-growth areas and update programs to focus resources on long-term institutional impact,” said Greg Filbeck, vice chancellor and associate dean for academic affairs.
The Open Lab commitment
Every Behrend student will complete at least one documented Open Lab experience — an internship, industry-sponsored project, significant research experience or community-based collaboration — before graduation.
“Our students choose Behrend in part because they know they can graduate with a résumé, not just a degree,” said Alicyn Rhoades, vice chancellor and associate director of research and graduate studies. “They enter the workforce possessing a unique capacity to navigate ambiguity, tackle complex challenges, and co-create solutions.”
National distinction in applied research
The plan outlines a path for Behrend to be nationally recognized in five signature areas: manufacturing and materials innovation, community outreach and mental health, bio-translational and women’s health, waterways and Great Lakes health, and business resilience.
Regional AI Open Lab innovation hub
All Behrend students will graduate with AI literacy and competencies that are relevant to their specific fields. Behrend will be the region’s “go-to” institution for AI knowledge, workforce training and collaborative industry partnerships.
A top 10% return-on-investment and career-mobility engine
Behrend will continue to prioritize ROI, which benefits graduates throughout their careers. The strategic plan will expand that value to career-pivoting professionals, creating new flexible credentials, second-degree options and accelerated degree pathways.
To enhance career readiness, all Behrend students will engage in formal career-development programming in the first and second years of their undergraduate experience.
Behrend’s strategic plan was developed over several months, with input from voices across the college community, including faculty, staff, students and the Board of Directors of the Council of Fellows. Through a series of town-hall events, surveys and discussion sessions, the steering committee created a shared vision that is purposefully aligned with the Penn State Strategic Plan.
As the plan took shape, four principles began to define the path forward:
- Return-on-investment: Every investment of time and resources must yield a measurable educational and economic return.
- Accountability: The college will foster a culture of professional follow-through and constructive dialogue that models the trust, clarity and responsiveness of a world-class institution.
- Partnerships: Behrend will be the region’s “convener,” joining forces across industry, government and the University, including Penn State’s research institutes, to accelerate innovation.
- Personalization: The college will design tailored pathways for students, faculty and partners that respond to unique goals and contexts.
“The work ahead will challenge us,” Ford said. “It will require discipline, innovation and a willingness to change. But I believe that together, guided by the principles of accountability, partnership and personalization that define our college, we can and will deliver on these commitments.”