Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a two-year educational institution that provides access to affordable education to residents of the Southern Alleghenies. The community college is centered in the Johnstown suburb of Richland Township in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Additionally, satellite education facilities are provided in Ebensburg (northern Cambria County), Somerset (Somerset County), and Huntingdon (Huntingdon County)
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History
The Cambria County Commissioners voted unanimously in June 1993 to become the local sponsors for Cambria County Area Community College (CCACC). In September 1993 the State Board of Education approved the establishment of a community college in Cambria County.
In October 1993, the Commissioners approved the appointment of a 15-member Board of Trustees representing the geographic service area of the institution and including leading members of the professional community. The Board of Trustees was inducted and held its initial meeting October 26, 1993.
By March 1994, the County Commissioners approved the Articles of Agreement with Cambria County Area Community College and a month later the Board of Trustees appointed Dr. John O. Hunter as founding President effective June 1, 1994. The first classes were held September 5, 1994. The College was approved as a candidate for accreditation by the Commission on Higher Education, Middle States Association in November 1996. In 1999 Dr. Hunter retired. The Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Kathleen V. Davis as the second President of the College effective July 1, 1999. Under Dr. Davis' leadership the College began the accreditation process by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Dr. Davis resigned as President in December 2001. In February 2002, the Board of Trustees appointed Dr. John Kingsmore as Interim President and the College began the search for its third President. In June of the same year the College received notification that full accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools had been granted. On July 8, 2002, Dr. Anna D. Weitz began her tenure as the third President of Cambria County Area Community College.
During its first ten years of operation the College expanded its academic offerings in liberal arts and career programs to include on-line courses and advanced technology offerings. In addition to providing area residents with credit courses, the College had increased non-credit, continuing education programs to meet the workforce development needs of the region. The vision of President Dr. Anna Weitz was to grow enrollment and expand outreach of the College to surrounding counties that are underserved or not served by a community college. In order to achieve this goal, the College petitioned the Department of Education to change the name of CCACC to reflect a more regional approach. The College's name was officially changed to Pennsylvania Highlands Community College effective July 1, 2004.
In May 2007, Dr. Weitz pursued another employment opportunity and on August 13, 2007, the Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Walter Asonevich as the College's fourth President.
In January 2008, the College moved the main campus to its current location on Community College Way in Richland. Under Dr. Asonevich's leadership, program offerings were revamped at the Ebensburg location, and additional Centers have been added in Somerset, Huntingdon, and Blair Counties, expanding the College's reach in the Southern Alleghenies. The College added new career-technical programs in welding, radiology technology, computer science, pre-engineering, environmental science and histotechnology, and also offers a pilot training program. Penn Highlands offers complete programs through our Online Campus. The College has also become an excellent way to reduce student loan debt as its liberal arts offerings easily provide for the first two years of a bachelor's degree while costing much less than public and private university tuition and fees. And, with statewide agreements with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities, an agreement with the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and several other agreements with regional private and public colleges, the ability to use Penn Highlands credits toward completion of a 4-year degree has become highly effective and efficient.
Our high school dual enrollment program, Accelerated College Education, is accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships and serves as many as 1,600 students each year in more than 50 school districts. Our Associate in the High School program has seen more than 40 graduates since the program's inception in 2011. Penn Highlands' dual enrollment students have been able to transfer tens of thousands of college credits earned in high school toward earning college degrees at institutions as prestigious as Penn State University, Duquesne University, the University of Pittsburgh, and many more.
The College is entering its sixth season for men's basketball and women's volleyball and continues to grow our NJCAA athletic programs with our new bowling and cross country teams that have already been recognized in regional competition.
Admissions
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College grants admissions to individuals who have successfully earned a high school diploma or a GED high school equivalency. Standardized tests such as SAT's are not required. Pennsylvania Highlands accepts applications year round and admits students on a rolling basis.
Academic programs
Associate Degree Programs
Accounting (A.S.)
Architectural/Civil: CAD and Design Technology (A.A.S.)
Business Administration (A.S.)
Business Management (A.A.S)
Child Development (A.A.S.)
Computer Science (A.S.)
Criminal Justice (A.A.S.)
Criminal Justice (A.S.)
Early Childhood Education (A.A.)
Electric Utility Technology (A.A.S.)
Health Professions - Histotechnology (A.A.S.)
Health Professions - Paramedic (A.A.S.)
Health Professions - Radiologic Technology (A.A.S.)
Healthcare Information Specialist (A.A.S.)
Human Services - Generalist (A.A.S.)
Information Technology (A.A.S.)
Liberal Arts & Sciences (A.A.)
Media Production (A.A.S.)
Medical Assisting Technology (A.A.S.)
Pre-Health Professions (A.S.)
Professional Pilot (A.S.)
Psychology (A.A.)
Small Business Management (A.A.S.)
Teacher Education Transfer (A.A.)
Welding Technology (A.A.S.)
Diploma Programs
Child Development
Medical Coding Specialist
Certificate Programs
Architectural Technology
Child Development Associate
Civil Technology
Computer Support Specialist
Early Childhood Management and Leadership
Information Security and Analysis
Network Administration
Office Administrative Specialist
Pharmacy Technician
Accreditation
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, which is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.
Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215.662.5606
Locations & Contact Information
Richland Campus
814.262.6400
1.888.385.PEAK
Pennsylvania Highlands Website
Blair Center
Logan Valley Mall, Altoona PA
814-201-2700
Ebensburg Center
814.471.0010
1.888.385.PEAK
Pennsylvania Highlands Ebensburg Education Center Website
Huntingdon Center
814.643.6200
1.888.385.PEAK
Pennsylvania Highlands Huntingdon Center Website
Somerset Center
814.443.2500
1.888.385.PEAK
Pennsylvania Highlands Somerset Center Website
Transportation
The Cambria County Transit Authority (CamTran) operates two urban routes that serve the Richland Campus.
These routes are:
- 9 - Richland Towne Centre
- 11 - Galleria/Scalp Ave
The Cambria County Transit Authority (CamTran) also operates a rural bus that serves the Ebensburg Center.
These route are:
- 30 - Johnstown/Ebensburg
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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