[As many of us know well, the end of a semester at a college or university can be a particularly stressful time for students (and others). In addition to counseling and therapy dogs, presence experiences via virtual reality may be a helpful tool in managing the stress. The story below from Penn State University describes a simple but apparently successful example. –Matthew]

[Image: First-year student Manan Jain uses a Meta headset to try the Liminal Virtual Reality experience. The virtual reality headset is in the Center for Academic Achievement and is available for use by all Penn State Beaver students. Credit: Penn State Beaver / Penn State]

Campus sensory room enhanced with addition of virtual reality headset

Gift from JP Recovery Foundation provides students with ‘liminal’ experience

April 4, 2025; updated April 7, 2025

MONACA, Pa. — College life can be stressful, especially for students who are neurodivergent, but a new space on the Penn State Beaver campus is offering a place for all students to relax, rest and recenter themselves.

The sensory room in the Center for Academic Achievement was the concept of Kristin Oberg, campus learning center and disabilities coordinator. The room is outfitted with comfortable seating, pillows, adjustable lighting and quiet activities. It’s an oasis on a busy campus. The room is frequently used.

“I’ve been thrilled with the way students have embraced the sensory room,” Oberg said. “It’s exactly what I hoped it would be.”

Oberg said students visit the sensory room to study, take tests, take naps, cry or just decompress. She said the room appeals to the entire campus community.

And now, thanks to a gift from the JP Recovery Foundation, the sensory room has a Meta headset and Liminal Virtual Reality (VR) experience that enhances the offerings for students.

The JP Recovery Foundation’s mission to help others live a healthy and supported life through sensory-friendly activities. Penn State alumni Alex and Neeka Filippi, who work with the foundation, both attended the Beaver campus.

During a recent visit to the campus, the Filippis were encouraged by Oberg’s commitment to student support and saw how her work aligned with the foundation’s mission.

Oberg said the addition of the VR and Liminal system has been “amazing.” The system allows the user to select mindfulness experiences that range from three to nine minutes in length, and users choose an experience including calm, energy and focus. Oberg said calm is the most popular selection.

On a recent afternoon, first-year student Manan Jain stopped in the CAA to try out the VR headset. He selected the setting for focus, which showed a space scene with shooting stars and circles. “I felt like I was lost in it and just deeply focused into that,” he said.

“It feels great. I would really recommend people trying it out,” he said.

Any students who want to try out the headset just have to go to the CAA and ask Oberg for the set.

“Having alumni like Alex and Neeka come back to campus and see the value in some of our new additions to the Center of Academic Achievement, and then being able to give back to campus to make the sensory room even better is truly special,” Andrew DiPietrantonio, director of development, said. “I couldn’t be more excited to partner with the JP Recovery Foundation in enhancing our sensory-friendly support on campus to help meet the needs of our students.”

Donors like the JP Recovery Foundation advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.