During his presentation to the University's Board of Trustees, Penn State Abington Chancellor Gary Liguori highlighted Abington’s unique student populations for board members: nearly half are first-generation college students, the majority plan to earn their degrees in one of Abington’s 26 majors, more than 50 percent identify as non-white, and they come from around the block and around the world.
ABINGTON, Pa. — Penn State Abington Chancellor Gary Liguori revealed his vision for the Abington Experience to increase student retention, graduation and belonging at the University’s Board of Trustees meeting today (July 18) at Abington.
“The Abington Experience will structure our existing assets into a roadmap for student success grounded in real world leadership experience,” he said.
The initiative, which launches this fall, will reinforce the critical importance of four aspects of Abington’s campus offerings:
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Embedded (short-term) academic travel: Abington boasts several courses that include required study abroad of 10 days or less over the fall and spring breaks, but Liguori’s goal is to make the classes more affordable and therefore more accessible. “One of my goals for the Abington Experience is to double the number of students who participate in academic travel. I have invited faculty to develop domestic trips, knowing that many of our students have never been far beyond Philadelphia. With subsidies from my office, there will be little to no cost to our students,” Liguori said.
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Leadership: Leadership training prepares students to succeed at Abington and in the world outside of higher education. “We are building a scaffold of leadership opportunities, where students can move on to more complex roles to build their skills. ... If we can show them how to get involved and support them along the way, it will become a critical part of the transformative process that occurs while they're on our campus,” Liguori said.
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Internships and faculty led research: Liguori plans to co-locate Career and Professional Development and Academic Advising Center in the Lares student union building. “Bringing these services together in one high-profile space will improve access and outcomes for Abington students,” he said. In addition, the undergraduate research program, known as ACURA, will expand into more disciplines across campus.
Although Abington is celebrating its past — 75 years as a Penn State campus — Liguori said, “We have plans, big plans, for the future” including nearly $100 million in construction projects that were planned with students at the forefront.
“We know the new academic building is going to transform our campus, and the modern spaces and design will foster problem-solving and hands-on learning,” he said of the $68 million project that will be finished in time for the fall 2026 semester.
The proposed $25 million gut renovation of the Athletic Building is expected to begin late next year to provide modern facilities for Abington’s 14 NCAA Division III teams. Five million dollars in renovations and the expansion of the campus biology labs are nearly complete.
The chancellor highlighted Abington’s unique student populations for board members: nearly half are first-generation college students, the majority plan to earn their degrees in one of Abington’s 26 majors, more than 50 percent identify as non-white, and they come from around the block and around the world.
“Students from Philly, Bucks and Montgomery counties intertwine each day with their counterparts from South Asia, Africa, Latin America and beyond,” he said.
With about one-third of students calling Philadelphia home and Abington’s easy access via train to the city, Liguori reminded the board of the region’s diverse and vibrant economy.
“We know there are tremendous opportunities in Philadelphia. ... We will increase our prominence and status as Penn State’s Philadelphia presence,” he said. “We are proud to be Penn State’s Philadelphia presence. Although we are celebrating our rich history this year, we continue to move forward, together into a new and exciting era.”
