The Pennsylvania State University at Erie The Behrend College

In the Black School of Business, students benefit from the resources and opportunities provided by a major research institution while enjoying the advantages of learning in a smaller, multidisciplinary setting. The school offers students a high-tech academic environment in the Jack Burke Research and Economic Development Center and unique learning opportunities made possible by a 20 million USD endowment from the late insurance executive Samuel P. Black Jr. and his wife, Irene. Penn State Behrend annually funds nearly 250,000 USD in undergraduate research opportunities, giving students hands-on learning experiences in their areas of interest. Each student is eligible for grants ranging from 700 USD to 1,200 USD, and follows an application process that includes selecting a faculty mentor, developing a research project, and creating a formal proposal. The college also hosts an undergraduate research conference each year where students present their work. During these research projects, Black School of Business students have an opportunity to collaborate with professors on cutting-edge projects that make a difference in the real world, working in the college's many outreach centers, including Partnership Erie and the Economic Research Institute of Erie.