Current plans call for a target of 800 baccalaureate students and 200 graduate students in the School of IST at the University Park campus within 5 years. Up to an additional 1,000 students will be served by associate, baccalaureate, and graduate IST programs at other Penn State campus locations. The school will need a minimum of 30 full-time faculty positions at University Park and 25 at other campus locations. In addition, there will be 15 faculty members with joint appointments in IST and other academic disciplines. Because a share of the IST program enrollments are expected to come from net new enrollments at Penn State, increased tuition income will provide about half of the expenses for the new school.
Early indications are that many companies have an interest in partnering with the school.
The challenge for Pennsylvania and the nation is to deploy a workforce that is able to sustain an economically vibrant future. The gap between education needed on the job and a high school education is widening. The knowledge base is estimated to double every seven years. Today's workplace requires employees who are skilled at problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, communications, and the ability to learn continuously. Colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to provide lifelong learning and workforce development opportunities.