BY KELLY URBAN
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is working for its students and the community.
That’s the message college administrators conveyed Thursday after releasing the results of a study done by Economic Modeling Specialists Inc., a Moscow, Idaho-based company that provides socioeconomic impact and strategic planning tools to community and technical colleges.
Penn Highlands President Wal-ter Asonevich said the results, based on 2008-2009 numbers, show that the college plays a significant role in the local economy by the people it employs and is a good investment for students on multiple levels.
“We are enriching the lives of students and they are earning increased incomes,” Asonevich said. “Eighty percent of graduates stay here and are active in the local work force and are generating revenue back into the community.”
Results show that the annual income of Penn Highlands’ students increases by $142 per year for each credit completed.
Over the course of a working lifetime, associate degree graduates earn $414,000 more than someone with a high school diploma, Asonevich said.
“We are excited about it, and with information like this I can go into other areas and talk on the positives of the community college, its value and its growth,” he said.
Officials also announced they are finally ready to move forward on developing the work force education complex.
“This is something we’ve wanted to do since we moved into this building,” said Lorraine Sylvia, vice president of finance and administration.
The 5,000-square-foot facility will be housed in part of the college building that has yet to be renovated. It will have a lecture hall with computer and video conferencing capabilities, classrooms, a reception area and additional office space.
The complex also will be used as a place where local businesses and groups can gather for conferences, seminars or strategic planning sessions.
Sylvia said they plan to break ground on the $2 million facility by late spring and hope to have it up and running for the fall semester.
“We have the funding in place and we are ready to move forward,” she said.
Fifty percent of funding came from the state Department of Education. Penn Highlands covered additional costs through its opportunity budget and grant money it received.
