Got a story about how community college helped you REtrain, REstart or RElearn for a new career? We'll feature a story each month in text or video, so please contact us!
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Here is a note sent to us from Mr. Daniel Hopson:
I am originally from Erie County and currently in my 19th year of service as an officer in the United States Army. I just wanted to let you know that I am a great supporter of your efforts to bring a community college to Erie County. Early in my career, I was an enlisted soldier who was encouraged by my supervisor to continue my education. I didn’t feel that I was ready, nor could I afford to attend a university, so I started at a community college. I found the classes to be a great learning environment and received much more personal interaction than I expected from a university.
I have since gone on to receive my B.A. from Tarleton State University and my M.A. from The Johns Hopkins University. The community college system was a great place to start my higher education and when I was ready, I easily transferred to a university. I just started teaching classes in the evenings to working adults who are attending the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Europe. It is very rewarding to help those non-traditional students who are traveling the same path that I had previously taken.
If there is anything I can do to support your efforts, please let me know! My wife and I own land in southern Erie County and plan to return at the end of my military career. I think northwestern Pennsylvania could benefit greatly from the services offered by a community college.
Thanks again for your efforts!
Sincerely,
Daniel Hopson
Benefits
What is a community college?
Today’s community colleges earn the word “community”: They provide two-year degrees, certificates and adult training and education in response to the changing needs of the local community.
Community colleges are accessible and affordable. Anyone can participate in a degree program with a high-school diploma or GED, and all credits transfer to most four-year colleges. In Pennsylvania, the average annual tuition is $2,500 a year, and most students work either full- or part-time.
Why here?
Northwestern Pennsylvania is not served by a community college, although it supports the other 14 Pennsylvania community colleges through its tax revenues. In addition, the region has acute workforce needs, an eroding tax base combined with an increased demand for social services, escalating poverty, and low post-secondary education rates, all of which would benefit from low-cost and accessible post-secondary education and job-focused curricula.
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Region needs more skilled workers
Regional businesses are having difficulty finding skilled workers, making it tough to compete; this also adversely affects business attraction efforts.
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Region needs affordable education opportunities
Many are unemployed or underemployed, but cannot or will not attend a four-year college. We need affordable educational opportunities that will help them earn sustainable wages.
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Region needs more post-secondary training options
There is no formal system for public post-secondary training; existing training options are costly, fragmented and/or difficult to access. Workforce development drives economic development, which, in turn, contributes to community development. Throughout the country, community colleges have proven to be essential components of successful regional workforce development systems.
What does the research say?
REthink Erie has released a digital copy of the Clements Group report titled "Evaluation of Northwest Pennsylvania’s Workforce Development and Educational Challenges and Opportunities."
The report and appendices are available for viewing and download below:
Full Research Report | Digital Paper Version
Full Research Report | PDF Download
Dr. Rich Gross, executive vice president of the Clements Group, presented findings to the public on Friday, Apr. 3 at Blasco Library in Erie.
The Apr. 3 presentation can be viewed below:
April 3 Presentation | Digital Viewer
April 3 Presentation | PDF Download
The public presentation and research release mark the end of more than five months of unprecedented regional research, including 98 one-on-one interviews with business leaders, eight industry and community forums, a ten-day online survey with more than 2,000 responses, and the collection and review of secondary data.
Thank you for helping us REthink!