Onboarding | Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

Welcome to EMS!

The EMS vision is bold: The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences is where the field manual for the earth and its resources is created by pioneers and learned by new generations of leaders.

Our mission is to develop new discoveries about how the earth's systems interact with one another and with people and their institutions and to use the knowledge gained from those discoveries to inspire students to become new generations of leaders. EMS figures prominently in addressing many of the most pressing societal issues of our time and in achieving many of the University’s top priorities.

Each member of our EMS community plays an integral role in achieving this vision. To learn more about where your work fits in, see the University strategic plan, the college’s strategic plan and the strategic plan for your unit within EMS:

Organizational Structure

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences is comprised of five departments, three institutes, and the Offices of the Dean. View the college's organizational chart and key contacts >>

Location of EMS Buildings

Our buildings are located throughout the University Park campus, with most clustered on the west side. Administrative offices are in 510 Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub. View a list of our main buildings and map >>

Maps, Transit, Bike Routes and Parking

Situated on more than 8,500 acres with nearly 300 academic, administrative, and residential buildings, Penn State’s University Park campus is a big place. View campus maps, parking maps, and bus route maps and resources >>

EMS Parking Policies

Information about EMS parking policies and allocations >>

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The University’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence reflected in:

Penn State Values (Diversity and inclusion are reflected under the values of Respect and Community)
Penn State Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

There are many resources which will help you become familiar with Penn State in relation to diversity, equity, and inclusion. A few in particular are:

Penn State’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Access
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
EMS HR Strategic Partners
Penn State’s Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity, which includes diversity programs for students
Penn State Graduate School’s office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)within EMS

If you are interested in increasing your facility with diversity, equity, and inclusion, there are several options for learning more.

The Safer People Safer Places program offers regular workshops, including the pre-requisite “Safer People Safer Places – LGBTQ Foundations Workshop.”
The Penn State Learning Resources Network offers a number of courses at no cost, both online or in-person. (Access ID login required). Under “Browse for Training” click on “Business Skills” then “Diversity/Inclusion” Or use the search bar.
The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence also offers workshops on Creating Inclusive Courses and other topics.
Our own John A. Dutton Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence offers learning design and faculty development services supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in both online and resident instruction.

EMS recently conducted a comprehensive Assessment of the Living, Learning, and Working Environment in EMS to gain valuable insight into creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment characterized by openness, fairness and equal access. Visit the ALLWE website for more about the survey, findings, progress, and outcomes

Recognizing that everyone plays a part in creating the welcoming environment we value in EMS, we encourage everyone to be a good ally to others. For more information on why it is important to be good allies and even advocates, and ways to do so, we have compiled several articles and resources as a starting point.

Our Bystander Intervention resources include scenarios with example responses, and a guide indicating who to turn to if you witness or experience problematic behaviors. Interactive workshops are also available. Additionally, the Penn State Red Folder project is a guide to help faculty, staff, and others who interact with students to recognize, respond effectively to, and refer distressed students at Penn State.

Especially if you are new to the State College area, you may find the Resource Guide to be of interest. CDG is a non-profit coalition formed in 2001 with the goal of creating “a welcoming climate for all community members, regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or ability.” CDG brings people together through a variety of activities and discussions. In addition to the community resources you’ll find in the enclosed flyer, their website lists current local activities and events.

Another community organization you might like to know about is the Centre LGBTQA Support Network (CLSN) which works to bring the community together through LGBTQA education and activities in the Centre County region. Within EMS, we encourage participation in the “Safer People Safer Places” program which creates a safer and more inclusive environment around sexual and gender identity.

For more ideas on events and activities, check the Penn State Diversity and Inclusion Events calendar and local community bulletin boards. You can also subscribe to the Penn State Diversity newswire by sending a blank email to L-DIVERSITY-subscribe-request@lists.psu.edu

We are also in the process of developing an online community resources page, which will have a wealth of information for those who are settling into the State College area or looking to explore new things in a familiar place.