Penn State Wilkes-Barre In-Depth Timeline
May 23, 1916
- Benjamin F. William and Harry Montz making efforts to bring extension school to the area from PSU (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 5/23/1916)
Aug. 30, 1916
- Norman C. Miller of PSU meets with local WB men and decides to create an extension school to begin in the winter (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 08/30/1916)
- Planning committee formed (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 08/30/1916)
Sept. 9, 1916
- Harry Montz made chairman of public committee for extension school. (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 9/9/1916)
Oct. 19, 1916
- Meeting of potential students with planning committee at Sterling Hotel. (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 10/19/1916)
- Courses to be held are outlined (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 10/19/1916)
- First advertisement for PSU WB classes appears in Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 10/19/1916)
Oct. 24, 1916
- Edwin E. Sparks, President of PSU, opens the extension school. Ceremony at YMCA Auditorium (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 10/24/1916)
Oct. 27, 1916
- Norman C. Miller of PSU holds counseling sessions for interested students at the WB Chamber of commerce (Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader 10/27/2016)
- 100 currently registered students for extension (Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader 10/27/1916)
Nov. 7, 1916
- First day of classes, a Tuesday. (WB yearbook 1966, p. 71)
Nov. 24, 1916
- Henry Dowst (MIT graduate) announced as head of WB extension school (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 11/24/1916)
- 8 instructors signed on as faculty at the school (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 11/24/1916
Dec 19, 1916
- Two new courses added: Trigonometry and Elementary Mechanics (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 12/19/1916)
- 157 men enrolled (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 12/19/1916)
Dec. 30, 1916
- First Annual Dinner of the PSU extension school. Students at Irem Temple. (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 12/30/1916)
May 4, 1917
- 59 male graduates of extension (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 5/4/1917)
- 1st graduating class holds banquet at Fort Durkee hotel (on public square) (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 5/4/1917)
Nov. 27, 1917
- Student social at high school gym on North Washington Street. (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 11/27/1917)
April 4, 1918
- 30 graduate from extension with a certificate (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 4/4/1918)
1920
- Outside extension school course to train industrial teachers conducted by Prof. George W. Davis of PSU, tuition free-funded by the State and Federal Government under the Smith-Hughes Act Feb 1917. (WB YB 1966, p.72) (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 9/23/1920)
1920
- Courses offered: Mathematics, Mechanical Drawing, Mechanics, Electricity, Surveying, and Cement and Concrete. Other subjects available on demand. (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 10/19/1920)
1936
- Name of Extension School changed to Pennsylvania State College Wilkes-Barre Technical School center. (WB yearbook 1966, p.72) (Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent, 8/23/1936)
- Tuition costs just $36/year. (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 9/7/1936
1930s
- Classes at Coughlin High School ran for 30 weeks, and met two evenings each week. (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 09/5/1930)
- 1 year course: Aeronautical Engineering – prep for students taking Government. Written exam for pilot licenses. (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader 9/9/1938
1940
- 2 year course: Air Conditioning
- 3 year courses: Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering
- New courses: Architectural Drawing, Plan Reading, and Estimating (WB yearbook 1966, p.72)
- Had laboratories for Mechanics, DC and AC Electricity, Kinematics and Surveying (WB yearbook 1966, p.72)
- Students made weekend trips to State College to use the labs there as well (WB yearbook 1966, p.72)
1942
- Extension opened 6 government-sponsored “In Service” courses with free admission and twenty seven subjects offered. Trained workers in war production how to take over more highly skilled jobs (WB yearbook 1966, p.73)
1945
- 11 courses for mining men opened to prepare them for greater opportunities in coal industry (WB yearbook 1966, p.74)
1946
- Official name: Wyoming Valley Evening Technical Institute of the Pennsylvania State College (WB yearbook 1966, p.74)
- Overcrowding in classes (WB yearbook 1966, p.74)
- Courses in Building Construction, Surveying and Construction, Heat, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, and Industrial Electricity (WB yearbook 1966, p.74)
- Classes met 2 evenings a week for 16 week terms (WB yearbook 1966, p.74)
- 16 faculty from a variety of local industries (WB yearbook 1966, p.74)
1947
- Began offering 3 courses during the day to deal with the influx of demand from returning veterans, which the evening school couldn’t handle. Named “Wyoming Valley Day Technical Institute.” David E Bradbury appointed Administrative head of day school. (WB yearbook 1966, p.74)
- Day school is the first of its kind created by PSU extensions (WB yearbook 1966, p.74)
- 1 year courses: Building Construction, Industrial Electricity, and Mechanical and Production Tool Design. Also instruction in Technical Writing and Speaking. (WB yearbook 1966, p.74)
- Evening courses under the direction of Mr. Victor B. Baiz (WB yearbook 1966, p.74)
1948
- Day classes held in the Coughlin Annex (WB yearbook 1966, p.74-5)
- Sept 28, 1948 Wyoming Valley Evening Technical Institute started classes (WB yearbook 1966, p.74-5)
- Evening classes: Building Construction, Business Administration, Industrial Electricity (WB yearbook 1966, p.74-5)
- Day classes added Business administration (WB yearbook 1966, p.74-5)
- Both AM and PM schools divided in 2 semesters which ended on June 3, 1948 (WB yearbook 1966, p.74-5)
- 107 men graduated (WB yearbook 1966, p.74-5)
- George W. Bierly becomes administrative head of the day school (WB yearbook 1966, p.74-5)
1949
- The Engineers’ Council for Professional Development (which encourages the growth of top-flight technical institutes) made formal recognition of the Engineering courses taught at the Technical Center. Became listed as one of the national institutes for teaching engineering curricula on the technical level. (WB yearbook 1966, p.75)
1950
- Moved to the Guthrie Building (WB yearbook 1966, p.75)
1953
- Beginning of the 2 year programs ending in an associate degree in Engineering (WB yearbook 1966, p.76)
1954
- Evening school opens September 27, 1954 (WB yearbook 1966, p.76)
- To support new associate degree in Engineering, start bringing new lab equipment from University Park (WB yearbook 1966, p.76)
1955
- First campus yearbook, the Electromech, published.
- June 11, 1955, first students (39 students) graduate with an associates degree in Engineering (WB yearbook 1966, p.76)
1956
- Graduating class of 42 with associate degree in Engineering (WB yearbook 1966, p.76)
1957
- Advisory Board approves the two-year Surveying Technology degree to start that fall. (WB yearbook 1966, p.77)
- Penn State University offered to buy the Guthrie Building from the school board, but local residents protest against it. (WB yearbook 1966, p.77)
- First female student, Immaculata Comitz, enrolled in the Engineering Course (WB yearbook 1966, p.77)
1959
- First female student, Immaculata Comitz, graduates with an Associate Degree in Engineering (WB yearbook 1966, p.77)
1962
- Discussion of consolidating Wilkes-Barre and Scranton centers but opposed by industrial leaders (WB yearbook 1966, p.77)
1964
- Surveying Department gains national recognition for its unique course in Photogrammetry (WB yearbook 1966, p.77)
- Public announcement of Richard Robinson’s $1 million gift of Hayfield Farm to PSU WB (WB yearbook 1966, p.77)
1967
- More than 100 community leaders are on hand for the ground breaking on May 24 for a new classroom building on the Hayfield property. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1968
- Campus moves – the first classes are held on the new Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus in Lehman. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- Dedication ceremony for Hayfield House held in October. (WB yearbook 1969, p.21)
1971
- Academic program expands; the first two years of more than 100 of the baccalaureate degree majors offered by the University are now available the Wilkes-Barre Campus. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1973
- Groundbreaking takes place for a Science Center to include an auditorium, laboratories, and much-needed classroom space. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1975
- The Biomedical Equipment Technology program, first of its kind, is added to the curriculum.(www.wb.psu.edu)
1980
- An associate degree in Telecommunications Technology is offered for the first time in the state of Pennsylvania. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- George Bierly retires as director of the Campus, and the Science Center Auditorium is named in his honor.
1981
- Dr. James H. Ryan is named Campus Executive Officer. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1982
- A new campus-wide Academic Advising Center is opened. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- Two-year associate degree in Business Administration is added. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1984
- The campus Alumni Constituent Society is initiated. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- A classroom building is converted into a permanent library. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- An annex is added to the Commons Building to provide a food service area lounges and the Penn State Bookstore. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1985
- Funds for the Athletics and Recreation Building are released by the Commonwealth and planning begins. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1986
- The campus’ 70th Year celebration takes place. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- The Campaign for the Center for Technology begins. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- The Northern Tier campus in Towanda opens. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1987
- For the first time, the campus offers an extended baccalaureate degree program that can be completed here: a bachelor of science in Electrical Engineering Technology. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1988
- Center for Technology construction begins in June. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1989
- Groundbreaking for Athletics and Recreation Building is held in May. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1990
- The Bell Center for Technology opens for classes. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- The Friedman Observatory is dedicated. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1991
- Dr. William A. Pearman is named campus executive officer. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- The Wilkes-Barre campus begins celebration of its 75th anniversary year. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- The new Athletic and Recreation Building is formally dedicated. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1994
- Authorization to offer the baccalaureate degree in Surveying is received. (www.wb.psu.edu)
1997
- Dr. Mary Hines is named campus executive officer. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2000
- The campus receives authorization to offer the bachelor of science in Business. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2001
- Authorization to offer the bachelor of science in Information Science and Technology. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- The campus offers degree programs for adults at its Kingston Center in collaboration with the Wyoming Valley West School District. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- The campus celebrates its 85th Anniversary. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2002
- Authorization to offer baccalaureate degree in Administration of Justice on extension from Penn State Fayette. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- Authorization to offer baccalaureate degree in Letters, Arts, and Sciences is received. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2003
- Authorization to offer associate degree in Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology (with engineering/technology option) is received. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2004
- The campus receives authorization to begin offering the baccalaureate degree in English. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- The campus receives authorization to offer the baccalaureate degree in Administration of Justice. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2005
- The campus is approved to offer the baccalaureate degree in Organizational Leadership (OLEAD), a degree program created exclusively for adult students. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2006
- Dr. Charles Davis is named Chancellor. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- Groundbreaking for the Abram Nesbitt III Academic Commons. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2008
- In January, the Abram Nesbitt III Academic Commons opens. The facility includes several technology-equipped classrooms, a cyber cafe, an art gallery, the Barry auditorium, and the Nesbitt Library. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- Work begins on the old Nesbitt Library to convert it into a Student Services Center. (www.wb.psu.edu)
- The John Murphy Student Services Center opens in the fall. It includes the Admissions, Career Services, Financial Aid, Advising, Student Support Services, Learning Center, Counseling, and Registrar offices. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2009
- Campus begins offering a 5-campus Business degree program, collaborating with Scranton, Hazleton, Schuylkill, and Great Valley to offer joint courses remotely to students at all five campuses using distance education technologies. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2012
- Groundbreaking for the Struthers Family Career Services Center. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2013
- Struthers Family Career Services Center opens. (www.wb.psu.edu)
2016
- Campus celebrates its 100th Anniversary!