New Heights
Research Funding
In the 2005-2006 academic year, College of Health and Human Development faculty received a total of 266 research awards in 2005-2006 totaling $54.9 million, the highest award total in the College’s history. “The research funding generated by the College underscores the outstanding reputation of our faculty and their commitment to advancing knowledge in their respective fields,” said Fred Vondracek, interim dean of the College of Health and Human Development.
Undergraduate Enrollment
Fall 2006 saw the largest freshman class ever at the University Park campus; it also saw the largest undergraduate enrollment in the College of Health and Human Development in years. More than 4,000 undergraduate students are now enrolled in the College’s nine academic units. “While enrollment at Penn State generally is increasing, the increased enrollment of students in the College of Health and Human Development reflects not only a University-wide trend but also students’ interest in pursuing a career in fields and industries with a lot of growth opportunities, such as health care, social services, and tourism,” says Vondracek.
The College of Health and Human Development has always been considered a “discovery college”— a college that students “discovered” after a year or two at Penn State. “Many students who ultimately enroll in the College of Health and Human Development learn about us from a friend, a roommate, or from taking an introductory-level course in one of our academic units,” says Anthony D’Augelli, associate dean for undergraduate studies and outreach. “However, in the past four years we have seen an increase of 77 percent in freshman enrollment in the College.”
