Many of Pennsylvania’s 14 public community colleges are reaching out to students whose for-profit colleges recently closed their doors. Since late August, three for-profit colleges with 13 campuses in the state– Cambria-Rowe Business College, DuBois Business College, and ITT Technical Institute, have closed.
Pennsylvania community colleges with locations near the shuttered campuses are taking steps to reach out to those students who are interested in continuing or completing their education.
The colleges are working with state and federal regulators to formulate plans to determine the best options for displaced students.
“Pennsylvania’s community colleges truly reflect the needs of their communities,” said Luzerne County Community College President Tom Leary, who also serves as Board Chair the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, “and assisting these displaced students helps to further our mission of increasing access to quality, affordable higher education in Pennsylvania.”
Last year, Pennsylvania’s community colleges served nearly 314,000 students from every county in Pennsylvania. The average tuition and fees at the community colleges for 2016-17 for students in sponsored districts is $4,132.71 – a fraction of the cost of attending a for-profit college.
A brief outline of Pennsylvania community college outreach for students affected by for-profit school closures is below. The list is accurate as of September 8, but colleges may add additional sessions as they see fit.
Contact information for the colleges may be found at the hyperlinks, or in the body of the list where a link is not listed.
In addition, the United States Department of Education has an information page for displaced ITT students, and is offering webinars through September 22.
Community College Outreach for Students Affected by For-Profit Closures:
-- Community College of Allegheny County – The college is providing orientation/information sessions at CCAC Allegheny Campus on the North Side on Thursday, September 15 and Tuesday, September 20. The CCAC West Hills Center in Oakdale will host information sessions on Tuesday, September 13, Wednesday, September 21, and Tuesday, October 4.
-- Community College of Beaver County – The college is working with individual students on a case-by-case basis and will engage students by utilizing social media and traditional media. The College Admissions office may be reached at 724-480-3504 or admissions@ccbc.edu.
-- Bucks County Community College - Hosted an information night for ITT students on Wednesday, September 7, with approximately 20 students in attendance. The College will hold another information session in the future. Interested students may contact Admissions Director Marlene Barlow at 215-968-8137 or Lower Bucks Campus Executive Director Jim Sell at 267-685-4801.
-- Butler County Community College – The college is working closely with Dubois Business College Students at the Dubois & Oil City Campuses. They are also hosting ITT sessions at Lawrence Crossing on Monday, September 19 at 6:00 p.m., and at LindenPointe on Tuesday, September 20 15 6:00 p.m.
-- Delaware County Community College – The college has posted contact information on their website for displaced ITT students.
-- HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College – HACC will work with students on an individual basis, and reach out to students using a variety of print and digital tactics including billboards, web videos, media outreach, and social media messages. Students can contact Kathy Doherty, Ph.D., Associate Provost, at 717- 780-2496 Ext: 212496 or ktdohert@hacc.edu.
-- Luzerne County Community College – The college will hold information sessions at Scranton and Nanticoke campuses on Monday, September 12 and Tuesday, September 13.
-- Montgomery County Community College– The college will host information sessions on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at MCCC’s West Campus, and Thursday, Sept. 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Central Campus.
-- Northampton Community College – Interested students should contact James McCarthy, Director of Admissions, 610-861-5506, jrmccarthy@northampton.edu.
-- Penn Highlands Community College – The college worked with Cambria Rowe students during their transition, and 40 former CRBC students are currently enrolled at Penn Highlands. The College is ready to assist ITT and DBC students.
-- Community College of Philadelphia – The college will host a "Fast-Track to Enrollment for ITT Students Day” on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Students may visit www.ccp.edu/itt, fill out the form, and an Enrollment Services representative will be in touch.
-- Reading Area Community College – Students can contact Kay Litman, Dean of Enrollment Management, at 610-372-4721 x5073 or Klitman@racc.edu.
-- Westmoreland County Community College – The college will accept Cambria Rowe students, and is assisting ITT Tech students. “Westmoreland 101” information sessions will be held at all locations September 14 from 6-7 p.m. The college is also creating a special 8-week session of classes that will align with ITT Tech programs starting in October.
For more information on Pennsylvania’s community colleges, visit the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges website.
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