Penn State Berks has hired its first AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, through the Pennsylvania Campus Compact (PACC) VISTA program, to help facilitate the joint health initiative between Penn State Berks and Penn State Health St. Joseph. Lisa Weaver began working in the position in August 2016.

Penn State Berks will continue the Stand for State program, a University-wide initiative aimed at empowering Penn Staters by providing bystander intervention training to students, faculty and staff. These training sessions will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5 in the Penn State Room, Perkins Student Center, and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Multipurpose Room, Perkins Student Center.

Families of Penn State Berks students will experience life on campus, while alumni will have an opportunity to reconnect with former classmates when the college hosts its annual Family and Homecoming Weekend, from Friday, Sept. 23 to Sunday, Sept. 25. This year’s event has a science fiction theme titled “Berks and Beyond” and attendees are urged to wear their favorite sci-fi or Penn State apparel. The program will include activities for the entire family, including social and athletic events that showcase the campus. Most events are open to all attendees, but preregistration is required for the Picnic Lunch and the Alumni Reunion Luncheon.

Co-founders of the nonprofit organization Beauty Redefined, Lindsay and Lexie Kite will discuss the issues surrounding body image and body shaming at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, in the Perkins Student Center Auditorium, Penn State Berks. The Kite sisters, both doctoral graduates from the University of Utah in the study of media and body image, have dedicated themselves to helping people redefine the meaning and value of beauty. This event is free and open to the public.

Penn State Berks will hold its Unity Day celebration, an annual Penn State event that helps bring students, faculty, staff and the community together to celebrate diversity, from 12:15-1:15 p.m Sept. 21. Activities will take place under the tent at the Perkins Plaza, rain or shine. All Unity Day activities are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

The Penn State Berks Freyberger Gallery will present an exhibition of paintings by Ann Elizabeth Schlegel from Sept. 8 to Oct. 18. There will be an opening reception from 6-8 p.m. on Sept. 8. This event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.

Nikhil Goyal sheds light on the most extraordinary models of learning around the nation in his lecture titled "Transforming Education," which will take place at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21, in the Perkins Student Center Auditorium at Penn State Berks. Goyal will discuss his philosophies on the American education system by presenting case studies and research that suggest schools are exhausting children’s creativity, curiosity and love of learning. This event is free and open to the public.

Prospective students are invited to a day of tours given by Penn State Berks Alumni Lion Ambassadors, as well as current student Lion Ambassadors, beginning at 10 a.m. Sept. 24 at the Perkins Student Center Auditorium. Participants and their families are invited to stay after the tours and join the annual Penn State Berks Homecoming Weekend festivities.

Penn State Berks will welcome nearly 400 first-year members to its residential community as part of the campus' annual orientation program Aug. 19. Students will move into the residence halls from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a welcome reception for students and their families at the Perkins Plaza from 2:30 to 4 p.m., which will be open to students, faculty and staff.

Students beginning their first year at Penn State Berks received their first homework assignment well before they showed up on campus for the first day of classes. The assignment, part of the campus’ Common Reading Program, is to read "Living College Life in the Front Row" by motivational speaker Jon Vroman, who will discuss his work Oct. 12 in the Perkins Student Center Auditorium.