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College Responds to Governor’s Budget Proposal

The smallest community college in the commonwealth must once again find ways to continue serving its students without any additional funding from the state. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College was disappointed to learn that the Governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2020 did not include any increase in operating dollars for community colleges.

“We feel that the Governor may not be well informed about the mission and challenges faced by community colleges in Pennsylvania,” stated Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. “Community colleges were created to meet regional needs for workforce training, and to ensure that access to a college education remains local and affordable.”

While student loan debt incurred by Pennsylvania students continues to rise, and there is persistent concern regarding the ability of our current workforce to fill available jobs, the institutions best suited to address both of those issues received no new support from the Governor’s budget.

A public community college covers the costs of the education and services it provides from three sources of revenue: a local sponsor, the PA Department of Education, and tuition and fees. The stronger the support from the sponsor and the state, the lower the tuition and fee costs need to be. This government support also provides funding for the development of new programs aimed at training students for current and future workforce needs.

State assistance is especially critical for small colleges like Pennsylvania Highlands. Working to serve the rural Southern Alleghenies means that operational costs are higher per student then found in more densely populated cities and counties. This lack of appropriate financial support may result in tuition and fee increases, harming the very population the college was created to serve.

“Pennsylvania Highlands prides itself on providing a superior educational experience that everyone can access,” said Asonevich. “We want to continue doing just that, but a lack of appropriate funding will hamper our ability to maintain those lofty standards.”

Pennsylvania Highlands is a regional leader that serves the Southern Alleghenies as a low-cost option for both higher education and workforce training.

College To Receive Nearly $500K For Computer Science & STEM Programming

As part of Governor Wolf’s plan to strengthen Pennsylvania’s workforce, Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Pedro A. Rivera visited with representatives from the Southern Alleghenies STEM Ecosystem at Penn Highlands to announce the PAsmart advancing grant that had been awarded. The state grant will help the ecosystem build on existing partnerships, taking a more comprehensive approach to addressing workforce needs in the region. For details, click on the image above.

Governor Tom Wolf recently announced $9.6 million in PAsmart advancing grants to enhance science and technology education in schools statewide. Of these grants, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is set to receive $498,495 as a part of this round of PAsmart funds.

“Workers in all types of jobs increasingly need to use computers and technology,” said Governor Wolf. “In order to meet that demand, I launched PAsmart last year to expand science and technology education. These grants will help our schools and communities to expand STEM and computer science education. That will strengthen our workforce, so businesses can grow, and workers have good jobs that can support a family.”

Projects funded by the PAsmart advancing grants include computer science/STEM camps and after-school programs, STEM programming for pre-kindergarten students and classrooms and a mobile fabrication lab where students can gain hands-on experience with coding and robotics.

Other projects will develop internships in computer science and STEM, teacher training programs to increase the number of instructors for computer science/STEM and a Pathways to College program for high school students in the state’s rural northern tier region.

Sources: Governor Tom Wolf’s Office, Tribune-Democrat

Penn Highlands Named A 2019-20 Military Friendly School®

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been designated a Military Friendly School® by VIQTORY Media, the premier source for military personnel transitioning into civilian life.

The 2019-20 Military Friendly School® list honors colleges, universities, and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation.

“This year, and in years past, we have been recognized for our commitment and devotion to military service members, veterans, and their families,” stated Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Penn Highlands Community College. “We want all veterans living in the Southern Alleghenies to know how much we value their service, and that we are dedicated to meeting their needs for education and training.”

Institutions earning the Military Friendly School® designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the school. This year, 766 schools earned this prestigious designation.

The 2019-2020 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by VIQTORY Media with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

About Military Friendly® Schools
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions.

The survey questions, methodology, criteria, and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. Ernst & Young, a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction, and advisory services, independently evaluated the scoring methodology used for the Military Friendly® Schools list using the criteria set forth by VIQTORY. The services performed by Ernst & Young were limited to advisory procedures and do not provide assurance over the scoring methodology.

The survey is administered for free and is open to all post-secondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com/.

About VIQTORY
Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs®, Military Spouse, and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any federal government entity.

Blair Center Sets Spring Open House Schedule

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Blair Center will be hosting a series of open houses between January and April for all interested individuals and their families. These open houses, all held at the recently renovated facility in the Logan Valley Mall, will take place on the following dates:

• Saturday, January 26: 10am to 1pm
• Friday, February 15: 10am to 4pm
• Monday, March 25: 6 to 7:30pm (college-wide event at all facilities)
• Monday, April 22: 10am to 1pm and 4 to 7pm

Attendees will learn about Penn Highlands and its opportunities, including programs and coursework, transfer options, and more. Information on student life, including clubs and activities, and financial assistance will also be presented by representatives.

All in attendance will get to tour the new, state-of-the-art Blair Center, which includes over 18,000 square feet of classrooms, labs, and student life areas.

Light refreshments and giveaways will be available throughout each event.

For additional information, contact the Penn Highlands Community College Blair Center at 814.201.2700 or blair@pennhighlands.edu. You can also find Pennsylvania Highlands online at http://www.pennhighlands.edu.

New Programs Fill Regional Needs & Expand Career Opportunities

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Board of Trustees recently approved four new programs: Engineering Technology, Sustainable Hydroponic Agriculture and Rural Entrepreneurship, Substance Abuse and Addiction Technician, and Paralegal Studies.

“These new programs are designed to meet the needs of the region,” stated Dr. Barbara Zaborowski, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs. “They give students access to exciting new hands-on learning opportunities and provide paths to in-demand careers.”

Engineering Technology (A.A.S.) is an associate degree that offers two tracks: Architectural and Civil. Students will work with Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) and Computer Aided Drafting & Design (CADD) software to facilitate the design and drafting of buildings and building components. This program offers opportunities to work with professional architects and engineers in the design, drafting, and layout of buildings, roads, and utilities.

Sustainable Hydroponic Agriculture and Rural Entrepreneurship is a two-semester (one year) certificate that prepares individuals for work in the sustainable agricultural industry, including traditional agribusiness and the emerging field of controlled environment agriculture. In partnership with Sandyvale Memorial Park, this program will be able to offer both theory and practical hands-on application in a greenhouse using actual hydroponic equipment.

Substance Abuse and Addiction Technician is an 18-credit certificate that enables graduates to work in an entry-level position in the varied field of addiction treatment. Students will be introduced to the effects that substance abuse and chemical dependency have on society; and gain an understanding of what addiction is, the different drugs that are used, how to work with those who have physical and psychological addictions, the various types of treatment, and counseling approaches.

Paralegal Studies (A.A.S.) is an associate degree that teaches the philosophy and methodology of legal practice so graduates can understand the principles of law and policy that affect government, business, and nonprofit organizations. Graduates may pursue careers as legal assistants and paralegals. Unlike the three other new programs that begin in Fall 2019, Paralegal Studies is set to begin in Fall 2020.

Pennsylvania Highlands has six locations throughout the Southern Alleghenies region that serve residents of western Pennsylvania.