Coterra backs new VR learning system at Penn College
A major corporate partner of Pennsylvania College of Technology has provided close to $1 million across a two-year period to introduce a new digital feature within the institution’s dual enrolment programme, giving students the chance to explore the campus through a virtual environment. The contribution has been made by Coterra, a diversified energy company operating in several states, including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. The support allows the college to adopt an advanced virtual reality system developed by XALTER, a firm specialising in immersive technology designed for workforce development and technical education across energy, manufacturing, and other applied sectors.
The initiative marks a significant step for the college as it aims to expand access to technical learning opportunities for young people across the state. The VR system enables users to experience the campus and its specialist facilities without travelling, offering a practical introduction to study pathways that often require hands-on exposure. Coterra’s leadership has framed the investment as part of a broader effort to encourage innovation in education and to widen access to high-demand career fields through the college’s dual enrolment network.
XALTER has used its XR Learning Platform to build a cloud-based virtual version of Penn College, enabling users to move through various buildings and learning spaces. Through this digital setting, prospective students can explore different academic routes and interact with tools designed to mirror real technical tasks. Virtual laboratories allow pupils, instructors, and industry partners to take part in remote practical learning, supporting a more flexible approach to technical instruction.
The initial rollout covers tours of eight campus buildings, with more sites expected to be added as development continues. The virtual system includes experiences related to programmes such as polymer engineering, automated manufacturing and machining, electrical study pathways, physician assistant studies, and baking and culinary arts. Additional career exploration activities have been built around areas such as surgical technology, on-site power generation, emergency management, and homeland security, offering students a broader view of potential career directions.
Coterra has also integrated its wellsite training system into the platform, giving students the opportunity to observe simulated energy operations in a controlled, interactive environment. This addition aims to help participants understand processes that would normally be difficult to access due to safety considerations or geographical constraints.
The platform is available through VR headsets, a desktop application, and a browser-based version that replicates most of the system’s features. Although the web version does not include the full set of career exploration tools, it still provides access to the virtual campus experience, making the programme more accessible to those without specialised hardware.
The VR technology strengthens the resources offered through Penn College Dual Enrolment, a programme that enables academically eligible high-school and career and technical education centre students to take tuition-free college courses during their regular school hours. The scheme links the college with around 70 partners across Pennsylvania, allowing more than 2,100 high-school pupils to earn nearly 7,900 college credits each year. Many of the courses available through this pathway are technical, helping to build a reliable stream of future technicians and technologists for industries across the state.
Prospective students will also encounter the virtual campus through headsets and apps carried by admissions recruiters during their visits to schools. This approach aims to give students a clearer understanding of life and learning at Penn College, especially those who may be unable to visit in person.
Senior figures at the college have described Coterra as a long-standing advocate of its mission, and the financial support is being positioned as a forward-looking example of investment in applied technology education. The contribution places the company within the Millionaires Society, a donor category for those who have provided $1 million or more to the institution.
Individuals or organisations interested in supporting Penn College may contact the college’s development office for information about further giving opportunities.
