We may have a long name, but our mission is simple: to empower every student to overcome challenges on the pathway to holistic success. Our team of higher education professionals provides proactive, personalized support that helps undergraduates build essential skills, navigate academic transitions, and foster a sense of connection and belonging. Learn more about what we do, who we are, and how we got here below.
At the Chaiken Center, we view student success as a shared responsibility — one shaped by data-informed, student-centered policy, practices, and programs. Our work is grounded in a holistic framework that recognizes how academic achievement, personal well-being, sense of belonging, real-world experiences, and career/life skills are all deeply connected.
Student success isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s about helping every student navigate their unique path, access the right tools and people at the right time, and feel empowered to thrive on their own terms. We’re committed to equity, access, and individualized support so that every student has what they need to succeed at Penn State and beyond.
Our approach centers on helping students strengthen nine essential college success skills that research shows are critical to both academic achievement and long-term growth:
By focusing on these skills, we help students develop the habits, systems, and mindset needed for success — in college and beyond.
At the Penn State Chaiken Center for Student Success, we tailor support and interventions to ensure students have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. We do this through a combination of signature programs — including Academic Success Coaching, the LEAP program, and first-generation student support — and individualized coaching grounded in research, data, and best practices.
Gene (class of 1962) and Roz Chaiken’s journey began at summer camp in 1959, leading to a marriage in 1963 and a lifelong commitment to supporting Penn State. Their philanthropy began in 1989 with the endowment of the Chaiken Family Chair in Jewish Studies. They later established the Gene and Roz Chaiken Trustee Scholarship in 2008, followed by the Chaiken Family Trustee Scholarship in 2013, and the Roz and Gene Chaiken Center for Student Success in the College of the Liberal Arts in 2021. In 2024, their generosity resulted in the naming of four additional Chaiken Centers across the University.
The Penn State Chaiken Center for Student Success provides programs and services across the university community. Gene, a former Penn State Board of Trustees member, and Roz were named Penn State Philanthropists of the Year in 2021. Their legacy was further honored with the naming of the Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building in 2025.
Visit the multiple Chaiken Centers established at Penn State to explore their impact on student success.
The Student Success Center opened in July 2019 to advance undergraduate success initiatives like the Complete Penn State program, awarding over $2M annually in scholarships supporting degree completion.
Since then, we’ve built key partnerships and centralized first-generation student support, contributing to Penn State’s 2022 designation as a First-Gen Forward institution – a distinction we proudly maintain.
In summer 2024, following a generous gift from Gene and Roz Chaiken, we were renamed the Penn State Chaiken Center for Student Success. That fall, we merged with the Office of Summer Session, expanding our focus to first-year students and those navigating academic transitions.
Through every milestone, we remain committed to supporting Penn State students holistically and empowering them to define their own success.
