Commissioners briefed about classes and business training available at N. PA Regional College
WEEDVILLE - The Elk County Commissioners welcomed Jodi Guisto, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) Educational Representative for Elk and Cameron Counties to their Apr. 18th meeting held at the Bennetts Valley Community Center in Weedville.
Guisto explained that the mission of NPRC is to provide affordable and accessible postsecondary education and customized Work-Ready skill sets to the residents of northern Pennsylvania. They are a 501©(3) non-profit public educational facility with 20 locations in 10 counties serving communities and providing a flexible, career-focused curriculum using interactive media. Associate degrees, certificate programs, short-term classes, workshops and seminars, as well as customized training are offered. NPRC promotes regional economic growth by meeting employers' needs for skilled workers.
Guisto said that she spends time in middle and high schools because it's important to present career options early, and inform students about dual enrollment, where juniors and seniors in high school who have at least a 2.5 grade point average can take 6 hours of college credits at NPRC for $60 per credit.
“Once they have graduated from high school and are ready to consider working toward a degree, the cost increases to $185 per credit, which is still not very expensive… 77% of our students qualify for instructional aid. We don't typically provide aid for high school students because it's already quite inexpensive. I also do presentations in the schools in January every year to make sure that everybody knows what NPRC has to offer.” The academic instructional location for Elk and Cameron Counties is at the Community Education Center, 4 Erie Avenue, Suite 200, St. Marys.
The following are the associate degrees students may pursue at NPRC, according to their college catalog:
Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies
Associate of Arts in Social Sciences
Associate of Science in Business Administration
Associate of Science in Criminal Justice
Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education
In addition to the academic offerings, NPRC offers Business Work-Ready Skill Sets to employers, which are tailored to prepare students for immediate entry into the workforce or advancement in their current business careers. These Skill Sets may be applied toward the Business Administration associate degree. Areas offered are Bookkeeping, Small Business Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Human Resources. Unemployed and underemployed residents may be eligible for financial assistance through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIO) and the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).
Some of the areas of training available are Commercial Truck Driver, Construction Trades, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Public Safety, Industrial Maintenance, Manufacturing, Medical and Dental, Quality Systems, Supervision and Leadership, Wastewater Treatment. Customized Training unique to specific industries, and Operational
Excellence, according to the handout provided.
Guisto added that they are now offering First Aid, CPR, and AED classes for $35. The classes are usually offered at an ambulance garage or at a fire station.
In conclusion, Guisto commented, “There are so many things that I've learned, I'm very frugal, and my children are going to owe less than $20,000 when they leave college. And I want everybody to know the things they can do to get a great education and a great job, whether they take some training or go to college.”
Applications to enroll at NPRC are available online and there is no registration fee.
For more information, visit https://regionalcollegepa.org, or contact Guisto at 814230-9010.