Newsroom

Somerset Center to host combined Open House with Conemaugh Allied Health

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Somerset Center will be holding a combined open house with Conemaugh Allied Health on Monday, November 9th, from 6pm to 7:30pm. This open house will be held at the College’s Somerset Center, in the Georgian Place, Somerset.

Individuals attending will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from both organizations. If you are interested in a Conemaugh Health program or simply earning your college degree, this event is the perfect place for you to begin and get any questions answered.

To learn more about Pennsylvania Highlands Somerset, or this event, please contact the Center at 814.443.2500, 1.888.385.PEAK, or somerset@pennh.25comm.com.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been serving community members for over 20 years with quality and affordable academic options, including degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

Celebrate Fall with Haunted Week; Free events, including a Community Trick or Treat

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is celebrating the fall season by planning several free events open to the public, including students, faculty, and staff, and members of the community. All events will be held on the College’s Richland Campus at 101 Community College Way, and will include the following:

• Monday, October 26, from 6pm to 7:30pm: A community trick or treat will be held throughout the Richland Campus for children 12 and under. This will be combined with fall games and crafts for the children, and a haunted hallway

• Tuesday, October 27, 12:30pm to 2pm: Held in the Cyber Lounge, a themed murder mystery, “A Spooky Hollow Horror” will occur. The grand celebration of the new owner has been overshadowed by the spine-chilling murder of one of the guests. Since everyone is a suspect, this ghoulish gang is out for an afternoon of fright and horror! All guests will have fun playing their unique characters and investigating this unpredictable outcome. Contact Jake Goch to register at 814.262.6486 or jgoch@pennh.25comm.com.

• Wednesday, October 28, from 1pm to 3pm: Want to star in your own short Halloween horror movie? It only takes 10 minutes. The Media Production Club wants to give you the title role in the blockbuster hit “School of the Damned!” Your character will be thrown into the terrifying Zombie Pit (the courtyard) to battle and live to see another day. How will it end? The choice is yours! And, don’t forget to watch the credits for the bonus post-credits scene. This black and white horror extravaganza comes complete with full production and your name in the credits, and the Club will provide you with a electronic copy of your masterpiece. A $5 donation to the Media Production Club would be accepted to help fund future projects. Schedule your appointment with stardom by emailing Glenn Barbis at v385o2@pennh.25comm.com.

• Friday, October 30, from 12:30pm to 2pm: Held in the Cyber Lounge, the second annual reading of select works by Edgar Allen Poe will be done by students. Works include “The Raven”, “The Cask of Amontillado”, and others. Come and join us for an afternoon of eerie literary fun listening to some of Poe’s psychological thrillers! For die hard Poe fans, feel free to come dressed in your best 1840s period attire.

Further details on any of the events can be obtained by contacting Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Student Activities at 814.262.6463 or studentactivities@pennh.25comm.com.

Partnership between Penn Highlands and Pitt-Johnstown to strengthen Community and reshape Higher Education

An innovative collaboration between two important educational leaders in the region will reshape the way in which many students think about higher education. The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and Pennsylvania Highlands Community College have entered into an articulation agreement, which guarantees the transfer of a Penn Highlands Community College Associate of Arts degree into one of ten bachelor’s degree programs at Pitt-Johnstown. The agreement was signed today in Blackington Hall on the Pitt-Johnstown campus.

Articulation agreements are designed to build strong partnerships and coordination between schools to aid in a smooth transition for students. By identifying comparable coursework, degree requirements can be met at one institution and transferred to another institution. With such an agreement, students are more likely to make better choices that can save both time and money. Four-year universities are noticing that transfer students have a high graduation rate, and well-crafted articulation agreements often contribute to a student’s success at the university. Articulation agreements exist between and among many colleges and universities but this agreement forges a connection for these two local colleges that is rarely seen.

“This collaboration sends a strong message that Pitt-Johnstown and Penn Highlands are focused on serving the needs of their students and the community,” stated Walter Asonevich, Penn Highlands Community College president. “Creating an affordable and timely pathway for the completion of both an associate’s and bachelor’s degree should be the goal of all colleges and universities across the country, and we are thrilled to enter into this agreement with the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.”

Pitt-Johnstown President Jem Spectar said, “This agreement reflects our shared priorities of student success, access, and affordability. More Penn Highlands students will have the opportunity to easily transfer to Pitt-Johnstown and continue on the pathway to achieve their educational and career goals.” He continued, “We are delighted to partner with Penn Highlands to open more opportunities for students in the Laurel Highlands.”

With this collaboration, students will begin their studies by completing their associate’s degree at Penn Highlands Community College, and then transfer to Pitt-Johnstown to complete their bachelor’s degree in one of ten programs. The Pitt-Johnstown programs include Communication, Creative Writing, Professional Writing, English Literature, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Environmental Studies, and Psychology.

College appoints two Associate Deans

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to announce two new appointments, Cynthia McCabe as the Associate Dean of Curriculum and Continuing Education and Larry Brugh as the Associate Dean of Career Services and Workforce Education.

“Each of these individuals bring a strong record of professional accomplishments in higher education, serving the education and training needs of students, employers, and the wider community,” stated Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Pennsylvania Highlands.

Ms. Cynthia McCabe, of Cresson, is tasked with assisting faculty to ensure the quality and integrity of curricular offerings, approving credit for transfer and prior learning assessment, assisting in schedule development, and evaluating student academic progress for graduation. In terms of Continuing Education, she and her staff are focused on advancing efforts to more effectively serve non-traditional students.

Mr. Larry Brugh, of Richland, will direct Career Services at Pennsylvania Highlands, helping students clarify their career goals and preparing them to meet the high expectations of today’s workplace. In terms of Workforce Development, he will serve as a liaison for the College’s WEDnetPA contract and other customized employee training programs. Pennsylvania Highlands is the primary provider of WEDnetPA employee training contracts across the Southern Alleghenies region.

Pennsylvania Highlands is focused on providing quality and affordable educational opportunities to residents of the Southern Alleghenies and beyond.

College partners with local Industry to reinstate Award-Winning Program

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has partnered with FirstEnergy Corp’s Pennsylvania utilities, including Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), Metropolitan Edison, West Penn Power, and Pennsylvania Power, to reinstate the award-winning Power Systems Institute program. The Power Systems Institute is a two-year program that combines hands-on utility skills training at Penelec’s Johnstown Training Facility with academic coursework from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

FirstEnergy covers the cost of tuition for those who meet their selection criteria and program graduates are awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electric Utility Technology from Penn Highlands. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, these students stand to have a median annual salary of $69,400 if they stay in Pennsylvania and work within this field.

In addition to Penelec, Penn Highlands Community College maintains local and regional partnerships with multiple industries, including health and human services, manufacturing, transportation, and economic development, to advance its mission of providing quality and affordable opportunities for learning that meet regional needs.

For more information about the Power Systems Institute, call 1.800.829.6801 or visit www.firstenergycorp.com/psi.

Penn Highlands and FirstEnergy recently welcomed its new class of students into the program for the Fall 2015 semester. The program will train the next generation of utility substation workers. Photo taken at Penelec’s Johnstown Training Facility.