WARREN — The Rural Regional College of Northern Pennsylvania will begin offering classes this fall under the new name of Northern Pennsylvania Regional College.

While the difference is partly a re-ordering of the original name, the change is significant.

“Even students in decidedly rural settings did not view the use of ‘rural’ in the name positively,” stated founding president Dr. Joseph Nairn. “The new name recognizes that the college serves urban and suburban areas, small towns, and the Pennsylvania Wilds region all equally. Our mission is to provide affordable and accessible post-secondary education to the nine county area, and the new name states that simply and elegantly.”

The newly christened NPRC will begin offering associate degree programs and, initially non-credit, technical instruction throughout the region this summer and fall. The college serves Erie, Crawford, Warren, Venango, Forest, McKean, Elk, Cameron, and Potter counties using real-time, synchronous, interactive instructional television. By aggregating student numbers across the region, the college is able to create and sustain classroom instruction without requiring significant student travel, or “in-residence” experiences.

Currently tuition at the Regional College is $180 per credit hour, or $60 per credit hour for high school students in “dual enrollment” programs.

Established by the Pennsylvania Legislature and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in May of 2017, the Regional College is a two-year institution offering associate degrees leading to work or transfer, and career focused certificate programs similar to a community college. Also similar to community colleges, the programs offered by the Regional College will reflect the needs of local business, industry, and service providers. Unlike community colleges, the Regional College has no county sponsor or sponsors, and does not require a county contribution to its operating budget.

“The need for affordable and accessible education in this area cannot be understated,” affirmed Nairn. “I grew up in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and visited this region for years. To think that educational opportunities have been so limited is painful to consider. The offering of two-year career and transfer credentials is truly ‘a good tide, lifting all boats’ and the Regional College is positioned to do just that.”