Preconference Tours

Penn State's University Park campus has much to offer. Plan to join a free preconference tour, scheduled for Monday, September 28, to visit feature locations around campus where engaged scholarship is in action all the time.

Sign up for preconference tour tickets is now open.  

Tickets will be available in your name badge at on-site registration. Please note that two tours, Nittany Lion Fund (canceled) and Café Laura (limit 40), have restrictions on the number who can participate. Preconference tours will meet in the Courtyard of The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel to be escorted to a waiting bus shuttle or the appropriate Innovation Park building.

A Ticket Exchange Board will be available at the ESC registration desk.  If you receive a Preconference Tour ticket that you are not able to use, post it on the Ticket Exchange Board for someone else to enjoy.  If you decide upon arrival that you would like to take advantage of one of these wonderful opportunities to see engaged scholarship in action, check the Ticket Exchange Board for available tickets.

Nittany Lion Fund, LLC (Canceled due to low registration)

The Nittany Lion Fund is a student-managed investment fund with over $5 million in assets. Utilizing the resources of the Rogers Family Trading Room, the Nittany Lion Fund provides Smeal finance students with the unique opportunity to connect to real-world investors without leaving the Business Building.

Founded in 2005, the Nittany Lion Fund has 65 individual investors and 31 student managers. It is one of the few university student-managed funds that uses actual investor money — not endowment dollars.

Café Laura (limit 40 people)

1:30–3:30 p.m.

Café Laura is an educational partnership between Penn State Housing and Food Service, and the School of Hospitality Management. Inherent to the development of students as professionals in the food service segment of the hospitality industry is their successful completion of food service simulation courses designed to prepare them for management positions. Café Laura opens its doors to the public daily to offer a unique blend of instructional food service laboratory and contemporary dining facility.

Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

1:00–2:00 p.m.

The Penn State SBDC provides student, tech, and community entrepreneurs with the education, information, and tools necessary to build and grow successful businesses. Working in collaboration with faculty, individual students, and student teams, the SBDC's dedicated team of full-time professionals serve more than 500 businesses annually.

WPSU Penn State Television and Radio Stations

2:00–3:00 p.m.

WPSU Penn State, licensee of The Pennsylvania State University, creates magic moments that expand minds, touch hearts, and feed curiosity. We produce noncommercial television, radio, online media, and educational services to inform, inspire, and engage. Celebrating our 50th anniversary this year, we broadcast locally through WPSU-TV (PBS) and WPSU-FM (NPR). Original documentaries and videos from WPSU's Emmy Award–winning production team have reached millions of viewers through national broadcast and online distribution. WPSU also produces interactive media to enhance research dissemination, World Campus courses, and outreach and engagement needs throughout Penn State. WPSU involves students in real-world learning on projects ranging from community events to musical showcases to football programs. Housed in a state-of-the-art building with 24/7 operations and 35,000 square feet for production studios and editing suites, WPSU's facility brings media production close to the heart of the University.