Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges Announces Community College Caucus Co-Chairs for New Legislative Session
Bi-Partisan Caucus Supports Community Colleges and the Students, Employers and Communities they Serve The Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges (PACCC) is pleased to announce the co-chairs of the Community College Caucus for the new legislative session: Sen. Bob Mensch (R-24), Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-18), Rep. Zach Mako (R-183), and Rep. Mary Isaacson (D-175). The co-chairs…
Community College Trustees Offer Best Practices
“I think one of the most important things a Board of Trustees can have is a true desire for consensus, not simply strong opinions from one or two people and a bunch of compliant voices,” said Frank X. Custer, Chair of the Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) 15-member Board of Trustees. “That feeling that every…
Community Colleges: Creating Worker Pipelines for In-Demand Careers
Pennsylvania’s community colleges are essential. Serving nearly 300,000 students annually, the 14 community colleges are the largest provider of public postsecondary education and workforce training in the Commonwealth – and their economic impact is significant. In 2016-2017, the 14 Pennsylvania community colleges and their students added $13.6 billion in income to the Commonwealth’s economy, approximately…
Rep. Schweyer Believes in Access to Quality, Affordable Higher Education
“My father didn’t graduate from high school, but served our nation in Vietnam. So when people talk about the life-changing power of higher education, I understand the opportunities that a postsecondary education brings – and the challenges that accompany being the first person in your family to go to college,” said Rep. Peter Schweyer, who…
Statement on PA Skills Compact Announcement by Treasurer Torsella
“The Pennsylvania Skills Compact proposed by Treasurer Torsella is a credible solution to Pennsylvania’s higher education affordability crisis. Because of chronic disinvestment, our Commonwealth now ranks nearly last in higher education affordability in the United States and has one of the highest levels of debt per student in the nation,” said Elizabeth A. Bolden, president…
Community colleges need your voice!
Community colleges are in desperate need of federal stimulus relief in order to continue fulfilling our mission of providing quality, affordable, and accessible postsecondary education and training, which is especially crucial in the midst of a global health crisis. You can help by reminding lawmakers that community colleges are vital to reskilling and upskilling the…
Advocacy & Marketing Campaign Request for Proposal
Advocacy & Marketing Request for ProposalJuly 1, 2020 The Commission will contract a successful firm or individual to conceptualize, develop and produce a series of videos and graphics for use by the Commission and its member colleges. Project deliverables may be adapted by the Commission or its 14 member colleges for use in individual or…
Community Colleges Address Racial Inequality
Updated June 22, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. Community colleges are open access institutions of higher education that seek to create an inclusive college culture that respects individual differences and values the unique experiences and perspectives of all students, faculty and staff – no matter their race, gender, age, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Many members of…
Pennsylvania’s Community Colleges and Career & Technical Education Centers Assure Students of Educational Opportunities
Today, Elizabeth Bolden, President & CEO of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, and Jackie Cullen, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators (PACTA), issued a joint statement regarding career and technical education articulation affected by COVID-19 closures. Each year, hundreds of Pennsylvania students complete a secondary career or technical education…
Gold Scholar Says Community College Changed her Life
“Pennsylvania Highlands Community College changed my life,” said Emily Krisko. “I identified my passion and charted an educational pathway to a career in that profession; I enriched myself and my community through volunteer work; and I had the opportunity to learn, grow and excel. I really found myself there.” Emily Krisko, a December 2019 Pennsylvania…