Forest and wildlife technology programs to open at Penn State Altoona

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Associate degree programs in forest technology and wildlife technology - currently located only at Penn State Mont Alto and DuBois, respectively, and offered through Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences - have been approved to open at Penn State Altoona, maintaining these unique and historic offerings at Penn State for a new generation of learners.

Students currently enrolled in the two-year programs will be able to remain at their current campuses until planned Mont Alto and DuBois closures following the spring 2027 semester, a timeline that will allow most enrolled students to complete their degree requirements without needing to transition to another Penn State campus.

Beginning in fall 2026, new students enrolling in forest technology will start at Mont Alto and new students enrolling in wildlife technology will start at DuBois before transitioning to Altoona for their second year in 2027-28. Beginning in fall 2027, all incoming students will complete the entirety of both programs at Altoona.

"By positioning these unique Penn State programs at Altoona, we are setting them up for lasting vitality and success," said Renata Engel, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. "These transitions also create new and expanded possibilities for our students."

Altoona's robust bachelor's degree offerings in areas such as environmental studies and biology make the campus an ideal home for the programs in forest technology and wildlife technology. Having the programs in a single location will expand opportunities for students to seamlessly build onto their associate degree coursework and strengthen their career preparation and marketability.

"We are building on the University's commitment to sustaining distinctive academic offerings that connect students to Pennsylvania's natural resources," said Ron Darbeau, chancellor and dean at Penn State Altoona and associate vice president and senior associate dean for academic programs in the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses. "These associate degree programs align well with our baccalaureate offerings and will benefit greatly from Altoona's proximity to public lands and forested areas that support rich, field-based learning experiences."

Troy Ott, dean of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, in collaboration with faculty from the Mont Alto and DuBois campuses, led a task force to develop the plan for sustaining the forestry technology and wildlife technology programs within the Commonwealth Campuses. The group consulted with industry and representatives from multiple Pennsylvania agencies to align the programs with evolving workforce needs.

Pennsylvania's forestry industry alone contributes more than $21.8 billion annually in direct economic activity and employs more than 60,000 people - nearly 10% of the state's manufacturing workforce, according to the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association.

"I'm proud that our work has secured the continuation of associate degree programs in forest technology and wildlife technology at Penn State Altoona," Ott said. "Our plan is not just to position these programs at continuing campus locations, but to build them. By engaging industry and state partners, we've ensured these programs remain vital to Pennsylvania's forests and wildlife, preparing future leaders, supporting sustainable land use and strengthening the future workforce."

The forest technology and wildlife technology programs join three other Commonwealth Campus programs recently approved to open in new locations. The changes below will be effective for new students beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Currently enrolled students will be able to remain at their current campus locations until campus closures after the spring 2027 semester.

• Students in the biomedical engineering technology associate degree program will be able to complete the program at Greater Allegheny after beginning at the Altoona, Behrend, Berks or Greater Allegheny campuses.

• After beginning at any continuing Commonwealth Campus, students in the electro-mechanical engineering technology bachelor's degree program will be able to complete the program at Altoona, Beaver or Berks.

• Students in the radiological sciences associate degree program will be able to begin and complete the program at either Greater Allegheny or Schuylkill.

"We are deeply appreciative of the collaboration across the University that allowed these program proposals to move forward with both urgency and care through the necessary review and approval processes," Engel said. "That momentum reflects our shared commitment to advancing thoughtfully during this important time of transition. As we continue to shape our portfolio of programs across the Commonwealth Campuses, we will be eager to build upon these successes."