Parallel lives: Two Penn State campuses launch 3-D printing

Abstract

Penn State-Hazleton and Penn State- Wilkes-Barre are two of Penn State’s 24 campuses, both located in Northeastern Pennsylvania, offering similar baccalaureate four-year degree programs. There are also several associate degree programs; however, many students take advantage of Penn State’s “2+2 Degree Plan,” in which students spend the first two years of study at one Penn State campus and then transition to the main campus at University Park or another campus for the remaining two years. Because of the mobile student body, students and faculty often have difficulty engaging academically with others outside the classroom. The addition of 3-D printing at both campus libraries has proved to be an excellent way to increase campus connections.