Operational Excellence
Modernizing how Penn State works, in pursuit of efficiency, resiliency and innovation.
A transformational, accessible educational experience for our students begins with faculty and staff who are empowered to think creatively and have the resources they need to succeed and thrive, unincumbered by red tape and supported by efficient systems and processes.
Efforts continue to optimize business practices, enhance service and support for the University community, and create career pathways and development opportunities for staff. Guided by crucial input from our faculty and staff, we can unlock our collective full potential, in service to our mission to deliver a transformational educational experience for our students, and in support of our world-class research.
Key efforts:
- A data-driven budget model has been adopted, beginning with the 2023-24 fiscal year, to establish a more transparent and modern approach.
- Optimized Service Teams (OSTs), a multi-year effort to create a new ecosystem of shared support and services across the University, are continuing to make progress across five workstreams. Efforts connected to three OSTs went into effect in summer 2024 for staff and technical service employees at the Commonwealth campuses in facilities, information technology and finance. For the latest updates on the OSTs, visit the Office of Enterprise Change and Transformation.
- Penn State is moving forward with a range of activities to explore further regionalization opportunities and areas for growth across the campuses. In support of these ongoing optimization efforts, an updated list of points of contacts for business services at each campus is now available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this work going to be completed with consistency and attention?
To be successful and support our employees through times of transition, the University is creating new processes and formal organizational structures to help drive, support and operationalize change across our large organization. For instance, the consolidation of the change management operations of the Provost’s Office, IT, and Finance and Business creates a new centralized Office of Enterprise Change and Transformation. Led by Jeremy Bean, associate vice president of enterprise change and transformation, the team is composed of change management specialists and project managers who have joined the unit from other areas across the University. This team will help us modernize our operations and support the implementation of strategic priorities from the optimized service teams to the Research Support Transformation Project and more.
Latest News
Optimized Service Teams share milestones, prepare for future states
Workstreams dedicated to finance, facilities, safety and information technology operations have conducted extensive information gathering, analyzing their current positioning to determine next steps.
Commonwealth Campuses exploring further regionalization opportunities
Teams identifying areas for growth locally and regionally for campuses across Pennsylvania.
Penn State moving to regional leadership model for Commonwealth Campuses
Penn State’s administration is moving forward with its transformation of operations for its Commonwealth Campuses, including a new shared regional administrative model that will create efficiencies across campuses and help reduce expenditures, optimized service teams and a one-time infusion of up to $20 million in additional funding.