Penn State Vice President for Outreach and Vice Provost for Online Education Craig Weidemann announced that he will transition his role to begin a phased retirement, effective December 31.

After the new year, Weidemann will begin responsibilities as special assistant for innovation and education technology initiatives to Provost Nick Jones. In this role, Weidemann will aide in the implementation of the University’s strategic plan, fundraise for outreach and online education, and promote educational technology initiatives with Invent Penn State.

When Weidemann began working at Penn State in 2003, World Campus enrolled a mere 3,175 students; in 2016, World Campus enrolled 17,487 students. During his tenure, U.S. News and World Report ranked World Campus first for the best online bachelor’s degrees in 2015 and 2016 and ranked multiple graduate programs in the top ten.

“Thanks to Craig’s leadership, Penn State World Campus has earned a stellar reputation as a national leader in online learning,” Jones said in a press release. “Having the ability to grow the World Campus at an incredible rate while maintaining such high standards for quality programming required a combination of innovation, foresight, skill and care.”

As Vice President for outreach, Weidemann was responsible for programs like WPSU, the Penn State Small Business Development Center, Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program, Cooperative Extension, Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, Conferences and Institutes, Justice and Safety Institute, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. He also instituted the Center for Online Innovation in Learning, the EdTech Network, and Urban Engagement initiatives in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

“Since arriving in 2003, I’ve had the privilege and opportunity to work with many dedicated and talented individuals across Penn State,” Weidemann said in a press release. “I’m proud of the indelible marks we’ve made on this institution, advocating for online learners, for adult learners and for so many of the organizations and audiences that we serve.”