June 3rd marks another milestone for Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC). Coming just over a week after the College celebrated their second year of operations, the Pennsylvania Department of Education provided NPRC with their 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 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 Senator Scarnati, 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. Local classes can be taken at the Venango Technology Center.
This article was published in the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce’s July 2019 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.