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By: Cyndy Hill, Director, Penn State Parents Program

I know you miss your student and not a day goes by that you don’t think about what they might be doing on campus. For the most part, you have to rely on only what your student shares. Maybe it’s a quick text saying “I’m fine” or even a rare glimpse of a fun night on Snapchat or Instagram, but there is so much more happening with your student.

I work as the director of the Penn State Parents Program. I am also the parent of two Penn State alumni and one current college student, so I know how you feel. I am also lucky enough to work on campus – seeing students is the favorite part of my day.

Our offices are located in room 222 of the Boucke Building (pronounced boo-key). It’s a great location on campus – close to everything, the HUB, coffee, and downtown (okay, not everything, it’s a long walk to the Creamery). If you happen to be on campus, we invite you to stop by our offices.

Boucke is not a fancy, new building, but students have a lot of reasons to spend time in Boucke. The building houses Penn State Learning, Student Disability Services, Penn State Global, Student Support Services, the Office for Student Conduct, and lots of classrooms. I recently heard a tour guide refer to it as the “Boucke Buffet” – such a perfect name.

I walk by room 216 every day. It’s not a big classroom – maybe it seats 20 or so students. But it’s a busy place and it makes me smile.

So many subjects are being taught in the classroom and when I walk by can see the screen at the front of the room and sometimes overhear the instructor – there’s an English class, a language class (maybe Mandarin?), and a math course that uses more letters than numbers. Last week, I caught a glimpse of the periodic table. It’s an amazing little room where great things are happening.

When I first walk down the hall, I notice the students gathering outside of the room waiting for the previous class to wrap up. Some are studying or looking at their phones, but many are chatting about the class, an upcoming exam, or their plans for the weekend. Most are dressed in their comfy clothes and occasionally a student-athlete will be decked out in their Penn State team gear. This time of year, everyone still seems to be wearing their big, puffy coats.

The desks are moved around for each class – sometimes in traditional rows, but mostly in small groups. The instructors must know the best way to engage the students in their class, because the interactions are dynamic – students are asking questions and talking with their classmates. Sometimes they are huddled around laptops and other times they are listening to someone at the front of the class. And, occasionally, there is laughter. There is so much learning going on.

I don’t know if your student has a class in 216 Boucke, but I can’t help but think about all the classrooms located around campus that are just like 216 Boucke and it makes me smile.