Penn Highlands Community College has signed a lease for its new location in Centre County.
Opening this fall, Penn Highlands Centre County will be located on the second floor of the Match Factory building in Bellefonte, according to a news release on Monday. The 5,200-square-foot space will feature three classrooms, a computer lab, conference room, five faculty and employee offices and a student activity area.
“It is with great excitement that Penn Highlands is opening a new educational location in Bellefonte,” Penn Highlands Community College President Steve Nunez said in a statement. “I pledge that the college will remain focused on its mission of providing affordable, accessible and quality education to Centre County, that we will remain community-focused and that we will build strong partnerships that will enhance the prosperity of the region.”
The Centre County location will offer a mix of in-person courses eligible for transfer and comprehensive online degree programs, according to the college. Transfer programs include associate degrees, and credits can be accepted by institutions. Penn Highlands currently has 166 articulation agreements with 33 colleges and universities
Penn Highlands Centre County will provide in-person services and support for online students, including resources for those seeking assistance and personalized guidance.
An advisory council of Centre County professionals and business industry experts is tasked with recommending programming to meet regional needs and held its first meeting in February, according to the college.
“The choice made by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College to establish a presence in Bellefonte is an extraordinary one for the people in this region,” Bellefonte Borough Manager Ralph Stewart said in a statement. “The faculty and staff exemplify excellence, driven by their passion to positively impact lives through affordable and high-quality education for career success. Presently, there exists an unparalleled opportunity to pursue employment in any industry, provided you possess the necessary education. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College brings this opportunity to our area.”
The college announced in December the signing of three articulation agreements with the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology in Pleasant Gap. The agreements will allow students to apply credits earned at CPI toward associate degree programs at Penn Highlands.
Penn Highlands has a full campus in Johnstown, with additional locations in Altoona, Ebensburg and Somerset and a drop-in center in Huntingdon.
