Newsroom

Career Closet established for Students

From Left to Right: Cara Moyer, Academic and Career Counselor; Jennifer Hale, YPA Board of Directors; Larry Brugh, Director of Career Planning and Employer Services; Michelle Maksymik, Executive Assistant to the President’s Office; and Tina Gibbons, YPA Board of Directors.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is happy to announce the College’s Career Closet is officially up and running. The Career Closet is located on the Richland Campus, in the Career Planning and Employer Services Office. The Career Closet is a great opportunity for students, allowing those in need of an interview or workplace outfit to have a year-round option to choose professional attire free of charge.

Sandy Schrum, Professor, Business Management, laid the foundation for this concept several years ago when organizing an annual college community drive to collect professional clothing for distribution to students in need. “Professor Schrum has been an avid supporter of our recent outreach and partnership efforts to expand and improve this concept. We are pleased to be able to provide this valuable service to our students with such great community enthusiasm and effort,” stated Larry Brugh, Director of Career Planning and Employer Services.

Recently, the Young Professionals of the Alleghenies (YPA) came on board to offer their organization as a pipeline in collecting professional clothing.

As sizes and the overall clothing supply will be available on a limited basis, Career Planning and Employer Services will be collaborating with the local PA WORKWEAR Program, operated by Goodwill Industries. PA WORKWEAR provides eligible individuals with interview outfits and work clothing at no charge. Eligibility is determined by the County Assistance Office or Department of Public Welfare. For more information, students may contact the County Assistance Office at 814.533.2491 or visit the office at 625 Main Street, Johnstown, PA 15901.

For more information on the Career Closet, please contact Career Planning and Employer Services at 814.262.3845 or careerservices@pennhighlands.edu. You can also visit the Career Closet on the Richland Campus, located at 101 Community College Way in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Transfer Programs offer Savings to Students

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College President, Dr. Walter Asonevich, recently discussed the College’s active participation in a statewide transfer agreement initiative that can ease transfer and result in substantial savings for students seeking a four-year degree in Pennsylvania.

Those included in this agreement are Pennsylvania’s 14 Community Colleges, the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) institutions, and several other colleges and universities across the state. Coordination for this initiative is provided by the Pennsylvania Transfer and Articulation Center (PA TRAC), to learn more about PA TRAC just visit http://www.pacollegetransfer.com/.

Students can enter into one of six approved Pennsylvania Highlands programs, complete the associate degree and then transfer to one of the participating colleges/universities with guaranteed placement as a junior. The goal of this initiative is to make the cost of a four-year degree more affordable for students and their families.

Associate degree programs at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College meeting PA TRAC (Program-to-Program) transfer requirements include:

• Business Administration (To Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing)
• Communication Studies
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Early Childhood Education
• Psychology

“Collaboration between and among the colleges and universities is the key to being able to provide such a program.” said Pennsylvania Highlands President Dr. Walter Asonevich. “We all recognize that our students have limited resources and we want to help them make good decisions about how they utilize these resources and prepare for their future.”

It is estimated that a student taking advantage of this program will save thousands of dollars over the first two years of his or her education. For more information, please contact the Admissions Office at 814.262.6446 or admissions@pennhighlands.edu.

Cynthia McCabe joins College as Associate Dean of Curriculum

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to welcome Cynthia McCabe as Associate Dean of Curriculum. Ms. McCabe holds a B.A. in Spanish and Government/International Affairs from Sweet Briar College, an M.A. in Student Personnel from Slippery Rock University. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Prior to her appointment with Pennsylvania Highlands, she served as Director of Records and Registration and Registrar for Montgomery County Community College and as Director of Adult and Community Education for Butler County Community College.

College hires three new full-time Faculty Members

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to welcome three new full-time faculty members to its growing family.

Dr. Tim Konhaus joins the team as as Assistant Professor of Social Sciences and Faculty Coordinator for the College’s Accelerated College Education (ACE) program. Dr. Konhaus attended Slippery Rock University, where he earned a B.A. in Geography and an M.A. in History. He was awarded the Ph.D. in History from West Virginia University. Prior to his appointment with Pennsylvania Highlands, he taught at Tidewater Community College, California University of Pennsylvania, and West Virginia University.

Ms. Tammy Calpin joins the team as Instructor of Medical Assisting and Practicum Coordinator. Ms. Calpin holds a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.S.N. in Nursing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Prior to her appointment with Pennsylvania Highlands, she was a member of the nursing resource team at Memorial Medical Center and adjunct nursing instructor with Saint Francis University. In addition to 13 years of nursing experience, Tammy also holds a Pennsylvania State Paramedic certification.

Ms. Michelle Myers-Claypole joins the team as Instructor, Biological Sciences. Ms. Myers-Claypole holds a BS in Biology from Juniata College and an MS in Biology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her most recent research project was on the population ecology of the blacklegged tick, the tick that transmits Lyme disease. She has also assisted in a project being conducted by the USDA on toxoplasmosis in Pennsylvania black bears. Prior to her appointment with Pennsylvania Highlands, she instructed at the Indiana County Technology Center in their veterinary technician program.

Gary Boast joins College as Associate Dean of Institutional Research

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to welcome Gary Boast as Associate Dean of Institutional Research. He will focus on data analysis and reporting in support of the College’s culture of information-based decision making. Prior to joining Pennsylvania Highlands, he was an IT leader with FreightCar America, Inc. Mr. Boast holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Mount Aloysius College and is a veteran of the United States Air Force.