WARREN — The Pennsylvania Department of Education has provided the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College with degree-granting authority.
This degree-granting authorization is a critical step for NPRC and will allow them to operate independently for the Spring of 2020. Gannon will remain their educational partner through the end of 2019.
To reach this point in the College’s establishment, the last year has been filled with policy development, curriculum writing, and creation of the College’s 2019-2020 course catalog.
“This is an extremely momentous occasion for NPRC thanks to the hard work of the staff, the board, and PDE. We are building a top-notch school, and that can only be done with top-notch, dedicated individuals,” says Kate Brock, chair of NPRC’s board of trustees.
When Founding President Joseph Nairn was delivered the news from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, emotions were strong. “I cannot adequately express the gratitude I felt when I got the news,” said Nairn, “So many people, so much time, so much effort, and now we are one last step away from fully realizing the promise and the mission of this very special institution.”
This milestone couldn’t have been accomplished without the backing by Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, the early work of the Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny (ECUA), counties that have supported the college from the beginning, and the superintendents and school districts that took a chance on this initiative.
NPRC is the first two-year college in Pennsylvania above interstate 80 and much of its success can be attributed to the seven years of ground work ECUA has laid for the college. Early in 2020, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College plans to begin the process for regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Northern Pennsylvania Regional College offers affordable and accessible post-secondary education options to a 9-county region (Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Venango, and Warren). In addition to Associate Degrees in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education/Early Intervention, and Interdisciplinary Studies, they offer workforce and professional training in industrial technology and Commercial Drivers Licensing. Customized training for businesses is also available.
