Making the Case for a Rural Regional Community College

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Capitol Update Friday, December 13, 2013 The latest news from the State Capitol Making the Case for a Rural Regional Community College Dr. Richard McDowell and I appeared before the House Education Committee this week to advocate for my legislation to create a rural regional community college pilot program to serve the 11-county northwest/northcentral Pennsylvania region. Dr. McDowell is president emeritus and associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and also chairs the Upper Allegheny Education Consortium, which has been working toward bringing community college services to the region for a number of years. In response to a 2011 study by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, Sen. Joe Scarnati and I introduced bills in the House and Senate (House Bill 1701 and Senate Bill 1000) to create the rural regional community college program. My bill awaits further consideration by the House Education Committee, while Senate Bill 1000 was approved this week and sent to the full Senate for a vote. This really is a fairness issue. Students in rural Pennsylvania need affordable access to the types of programs and services provided by community colleges in other areas of the state. And in a region that is struggling like ours – with declining population, especially among our youth; lower-than-average income; and shrinking job opportunities – a community college program could be a catalyst in the effort to rebuild our economy in rural Pennsylvania. To review the findings of the study, click here.