Dive Brief:
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A glitch in Penn State’s new student information software cause the institution to extend acceptance letters to more students than planned, but the university is getting creative about how to deal with the error.
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Penn State is offering what it calls 1+3 scholarships — allowing students to attend their first year at one of the institution’s satellite campuses and completing the remaining four years of the undergraduate experience at University Park.
- Students who agree to accept the offer are promised $20,000 savings on the total degree bill, with a $5,000 reduction in housing at the satellite campus and $15,000 in tuition discounts and scholarships.
Dive Insight:
Penn State is not the first school to experience technology glitches that overextend the admissions capacity. Carnegie Mellon, UC Davis and Cornell have all had their fair share of embarrassing admissions mistakes. But Penn State’s handling of the situation was executed in a way that shields the university brand and could benefit both students and the institution, by allowing a buffer year to correct the mishap.
The university is offering additional accommodations, including supplemental housing, contract flexibility for returning upperclassmen hoping to get out of their housing agreements and commuter options.