RethinkErie

News Archives

07/22/09

On July 22, the Erie Times-News wrote an editorial detailing recent national news coverage of President Barack Obama's community college initiatives to improve America's competitiveness and the region's opportunity to create "a model program, nimble enough for the changing job market and committed to helping students graduate and succeed."  Click here to read the full text of the editorial. More.

07/20/09

The July 20 edition of TIME Magazine features a story on community colleges from journalist, Laura Fitzpatrick. The article emphasizes that community colleges are especially suited to helping students adapt to a changing labor market and able to partner with local businesses in response to industry needs, getting students in and out and ready to work — fast.  Click here to read the full article. More.

07/17/09

New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote an editorial titled "No Size Fits All" on July 17 in which he says the President's community college plan is designed to go right at the nation's education and workforce challenges — exactly the same reasons REthink Erie was formed. Click here to read the article. More.

07/14/09

Wall Street Journal writer Robert Tomsho detailed President Obama's plan to invest $12 billion in the nation's community colleges in a July 14 article. President Obama's plan answers one of the most frequently-asked REthink Erie questions: Why would we invest in a community college now?  Obama has called education key to the nation working its way out of the recession and competing more effectively internationally.  Click here to read the full text of the article. More.

06/24/09

Mary Bula, vice president of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, contributed a column to the Erie Times-News on June 24, pointing out that businesses are suffering, people are struggling, and citizens are footing the bill through taxes and much-needed charitable contributions.  REthink Erie learned that our community's needs are ones that are traditionally met by community colleges. More.

06/23/09

On June 23, the Erie-Times News published an editorial stressing that "taking more time to complete the application and build community consensus is smart" because it "gives all of us the opportunity to educate ourselves about the benefits of a [community college] that works everywhere else." More.

06/19/09

Inside REthink summarizes some of the key areas that need to be addressed by a community college application. As work progresses, Inside REthink will be updated to reflect where we are and what we are REthinking. More.

06/03/09

Michael Batchelor, president of the Erie Community Foundation, contributed a column to the Erie Times-News on June 3, in which he calls all of us to work together and develop solutions to reverse the region's negative demographic and educational attainment trends. "It is no longer an option to do nothing," he says.  To read Mr. Batchelor's column, please click here. More.

05/27/09

The Erie Times-News published an editorial on May 27 encouraging residents to to keep an open mind about the community college and to think about the potential benefits of such an investment in education here.  Click here to read the article. More.

05/18/09

Click here for a list of frequently asked questions and answers about the REthink Erie community college effort. More.

05/15/09

Click here to view the REthink Erie PowerPoint presentation More.

05/07/09

Steve Bishop of Pittsfield, PA wrote to the editor of the Erie Times-News to encourage taxpayers to view the community college as an investment.  Click here to read Mr. Bishop's letter. More.

04/03/09

On April 3, 2009, Erie County Council member, Joe Giles, announced that the REthink Erie leadership team decided to develop an application to the State Board of Education for a potential community college.  Click here to read the text of Mr. Giles' public comments. More.

04/02/09

The Erie Times-News published an editorial Thursday titled "Community college report welcome."  Click here to read the full text of article.   More.

04/02/09

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."  More.

03/31/09

Garry Boulard, staff writer for the Community College Times, featured the REthink Erie community college initiative in a recent national article. Click here to read the full text.  The Community College Times is published by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in Washington, DC. More.

02/21/09

The Warren Times Observer's Lauren Vokish reports on the preliminary results of the REthink Erie research presented at the February legislator update in Warren, Pa. Click here to access the full text. More.

02/20/09

WJET-TV's Craig Layne reports on the preliminary REthink Erie research results presented to community leaders at the Warren Public Library on Friday morning. Click here to access video of Craig's report and a transcript. More.

02/01/09

The Erie Times-News Editorial Board has published its seventh annual community agenda. REthink Erie is one of four initiatives it supports for 2009. Click here to access the full text. More.

01/31/09

The Warren Times Observer's Lauren Vokish reports on the progress of REthink Erie and informs Waren County residents about the online survey. Click here to access the full text. More.

01/22/09

Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Susan Snyder provided information on a report by the State Board of Education's Higher Education Council in which they called for more "low-cost, no frills" higher education options in Pennsylvania, including additional and expanded community colleges.  Snyder's article was published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jan 22.  Click here to access the full text. More.

01/17/09

Meadville Tribune reporter Penni Schaefer detailed the progress of the REthink Erie initiative in a Jan.  17 article.  Click here to access the full text. More.

01/16/09

WICU12 (NBC) reporter John Last described the research involved in the REthink Erie initiative during the  6 p.m. newscast on Jan.  16.  Please click here for a transcript. More.

01/05/09

The Erie Times-News published an editorial on the unprecedented research and collaboration behind the REthink Erie initiative on Jan. 5.  Click here to access the full text.  More.

12/24/08

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Awards awards $69 million in initial grants to help more young people access and complete a postsecondary degree.  Click here to access the news release. More.