WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – A Pennsylvania College of Technology corporate partner has contributed nearly $1 million over two years to support an initiative that allows dual enrollment and prospective students to virtually experience the institution.
Coterra Energy — a premier diversified energy company with operations in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania — made the financial commitment, enabling the college to implement state-of-the-art virtual reality technology built and provided by XALTER. The virtual product development company delivers immersive learning experiences that support workforce development and technical education for energy, advanced manufacturing and related industries.
“Coterra is proud to partner with Penn College, an institution that continues to set the standard for technical education,” said Bill desRosiers, manager of government and external affairs at Coterra Energy. “This investment reflects our belief that innovation and education go hand in hand. By deploying this state-of-the-art technology, we’re helping to expand access to Penn College for students statewide – especially through its dual enrollment program – so more young people can explore high-demand careers and gain the skills needed to power the industries of tomorrow.”
XALTER has leveraged its XR Learning Platform to create a cloud-based virtual environment that invites visitors to tour the Penn College campus and its various learning labs. Users can discover career possibilities through interactive experiences based on specific degrees, and virtual labs make it possible for students, teachers and industry leaders to facilitate remote hands-on learning.
Tours of eight campus buildings are included in the initial launch, with several more facilities to be added. Academic programs featured include polymer engineering, automated manufacturing & machining, electrical, physician assistant studies, and baking & culinary. Immersive career exploration activities are offered for surgical technology, on-site power generation technology, and emergency management & homeland security.
Coterra is also making its wellsite training system available through this platform, allowing students to experience real-world energy operations in a safe, interactive environment. The platform can be accessed through VR headsets, a desktop app and a browser-based web app, which mimics the headset/desktop apps but does not include the career exploration options.
The VR technology augments resources provided for Penn College Dual Enrollment, a program that enables academically qualified high school and career and technology education center students to take college courses tuition-free during their regular school day.
Penn College Dual Enrollment works with about 70 partners across Pennsylvania, allowing 2,100-plus high school students to earn nearly 7,900 Penn College credits. Most of the courses are technical in nature, providing a career pipeline for skilled technicians and technologists that are in demand by business and industry throughout Pennsylvania.
Prospective students also will be exposed to the virtual Penn College campus via the apps and headsets provided by admissions recruiters during school visits.
“Coterra has been such a fierce advocate for Penn College, for which we are grateful,” said Loni N. Kline, senior vice president for college relations. “This gift is a wonderful example of their forward-thinking approach to advocacy of applied technology education among today’s youth, leading to a more advanced workforce pipeline – not only in energy-adjacent fields but across a multitude of industries throughout the commonwealth.”
Coterra is a member of the Millionaires Society ($1 million-plus) on the college’s Donor Wall.
Those wishing to explore giving opportunities at Penn College can call 570-320-8020.
Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education. Visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.