Erie County Community College
Affordability. Accessibility. Flexibility.We have the ability to change our community’s future.Erie County Community CollegeA Proposal for the Establishmentof a Public Community Collegein Erie County, PennsylvaniaSubmitted to:The State Board of Education333 Market StreetHarrisburg, PA 17126-0333Submitted by:The County of Erie140 West Sixth Street, Room 116Erie, PA 16501-1081June 2017
E MPOWER E RIEMay 20, 2017In October 2016, the newly formed non-profit Empower Erie pledged to the community aprompt and thorough investigation of the feasibility of a community college for Erie County and, ifwarranted, to present a plan for its creation. Our commitment was to work purposefully, dig deeplyand report accurately. Adhering to that commitment, in just over 200 days the essential elements ofour work have been presented to the community, 30 days ahead of schedule.Our review was set against the backdrop of a region buffeted by poverty, unemployment andcrime, and fatigued by an unrealized dream of a community college that fell short repeatedly over ageneration. Yet, on closer examination, we found a community on the cusp of change, anxious todislodge the status quo, and inspired by a bold set of leaders from business, philanthropy andgovernment willing to play big and win big.We were greatly aided by a dedicated staff, passionate interns, and a diverse team of volunteerswho donated over 2,000 hours of their time, in over 25 board meetings, plus working groups, traveland briefings. These volunteers included accountants, educators, business executives, engineers,lawyers, union leaders, civic leaders, single parents, scholars, retirees, and others, all who gave upmuch in the public interest.We were supported by the deep wells of knowledge and resources of the Erie CommunityFoundation, the Susan Hirt Hagen Center, and the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority. We wereencouraged by the support for our study from County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper andCouncilmembers Jay Breneman, Fiore Leone, Kathy Fatica, and the co-founder of Empower Erie, AndreHorton, all of whom offered invaluable advice in the process. Our consulting experts were seasonedand skilled, including a pioneering community college president, a former Deputy Secretary ofEducation, the long-time communications director for a prominent governor, and the former chief ofstaff for a leading member of Congress.The record of our work exceeds 650 pages of primary and secondary research, catalogue'sinterviews with dozens of community leaders, parents and workers, and an unprecedentedcompilation of student attitudes toward post-secondary attainment.The Community understands, and our research shows, that we need to shift from playingdefense to playing offense on economic development and education. A community college would helpus create a winning strategy, embracing our future and restoring Erie's reputation as a maker city andbuilder of America.Very truly yours,Ronald A. DiNicolaChair, Empower Erie1001 State Street I Suite 1400 I Erie, PA 16501814-480-5717 I empowererie1001@gmail.com
Table of ContentsIntroduction . Page 4Historical Project Evolution . 4An Application and Call to Action . 4Target Programming . 5A Better Future for Erie County . 5Chapter 1: Background . 6Purpose and Objectives . 6Process . 6Local Sponsor . 7Guidance Documents . 7Report Organization . 7Chapter 2: Study Service Area . 8The Region . 8Transportation . 8Land Use . 9Sector Strengths . 9Study Area Defined .10Geographical Characteristics .10Population .10General Population Demographics .11General Population Distribution .11Population Trends .12Population Forecast .12Effect of Population Increase/Decrease on Need for Proposed Community College .14Transportation Infrastructure .14Roadway System .15Public Transit .16Aviation .17Port of Erie .18Railroads .18Traditional Utility Services .18Broadband Service .18Area Media and Communications .19Population — Demographic and Educational Trends .20Education .20Employment .21Human Resources .22Community College Enrollment Projections .22Chapter 3: Results of Survey Research .23Introduction .23Headlines .23What did the research show? .24Proposed Community College Analysis .262
Chapter 4: Philosophy, Objectives and Organization of the College .30Introduction .30Mission.30Governance .31Sponsorship of the College .31Board of Trustees .32Organization of College Administration .32Draft Policies .33Administration Policies of the College .33Academic Policies .34Student Related Policies .35Tuition and Fees Policies .35Financial Aid Policies .35Course-Related Policies .35Personnel/Human Resources .36Personnel Handbook .36Non-Discrimination .36Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer .37Sexual Harassment .37Drug Free Workplace .37Facilities and Site Selection .37Criteria .37Empower Erie Site Selection Criteria Location .38Facility Characteristics .38Financial .38Miscellaneous .38Student Services .40Financial Aid Counseling .40Orientation .40Counseling and Guidance .40Placement Services .40Follow-up Studies .40Program Offerings .41Pennsylvania College Credit Transfer System .45Digital Learning .47Projected Opening Enrollment.47Chapter 5: Financial Operations of the Community College.49Introduction .49Revenues .49Student Tuition .49State Support .49Local Support .49Proposed Budget for Start-up Period .50Pre-Year One Budget .50Budgets for Following Years of Operation .5110-year Capital Plan .53Conclusion.533
IntroductionThis application meets the requirements of the State Boardof Education and Pennsylvania Department of Education fora stand-alone community college proposed for Erie County.The college, if approved, would meet the needs of the region’sresidents for years to come — whether they attend the collegeand go on to further their education, or learn key skills tohelp them launch or restart their careers.viability of a community college includes 300,000 providedcollectively from the Erie Community Foundation, the ErieCounty Gaming Revenue Authority and the Susan Hirt HagenFund for Transformational Philanthropy. In addition, ErieCounty Council committed 60,000 to study the feasibilityof the community college. Upon approval of the communitycollege plan, it is projected that no additional tax revenuewill be required to fund the college. The Erie CommunityFoundation has promised 3.7 million would be available forstart-up and operational costs. In addition, further fundingis anticipated through an estimated 2.95 million in existinggaming revenue funds, as well as nearly 1 million morein gaming revenue funds expected to be available in 2021.With the funding from these revenue streams, Empower Erieprojects that the Community College can operate without theneed for any real estate tax revenue to fund it.A community college could serve as a catalyst for economicgrowth by offering a path to a more promising future forthousands of local people from high school students earningcollege credits to older citizens gaining new, marketable skills.Empower Erie, a nonprofit organization, was establishedwith the specific mission to do the research, outreach andconsensus-building required to open a viable communitycollege in Erie. Funding to study the feasibility andAn application and call to actionThis community college report serves as a formal application fora community college, as well as a vital call-to-action for moreaccessible and affordable post-secondary education as a meansto lift an entire community that has faced significant socioeconomic challenges. A community college will provide the skillsand training that people need to qualify for high skill jobs thatpay a living wage. It will provide employers with a pipeline ofpromising and talented applicants who can help drive growth andbetter business results. And it will play a vital role in stemmingthe brain-and-talent drain that has resulted in far too many peopleleaving the Erie community for opportunities elsewhere.options to everyone. Erie County, with an estimated populationof 276,000 (and nearly 100,000 in the city), is the most populouscommunity in the state that does not benefit from the uniqueofferings of a stand-alone community college.Being locally based and accountable, a community college inErie County can fully focus on meeting the unique needs andaspirations of the communities it serves. The priorities of thecommunity college will reflect the priorities and needs of theErie community. Programmatically, the community collegecan base its offerings and services on thoroughly researchedneeds identified by the local governmental, business, education,healthcare and community leaders across the Erie community.Currently, 14 community colleges operate in the Commonwealthof Pennsylvania, offering affordable and flexible education4
Targeted programmingA community college in Erie County can offer programmingtargeted at meeting the needs of a variety of stakeholders in thelocal community.college would help Erie County and the region’s residentsreach their potential. The feasibility study’s data and narrativepaint a picture of Erie County at a definitive crossroads in itseconomic development. The community clearly faces manyreal and significant challenges. Yet, also emerging is somethinginspirational: a growing sense of possibility backed by actionoriented leadership.The programming would include everything from Associate andTargeted Programming to certificate training programs, fromnot-for-credit short coursesto developmental/remedialeducation, from appliedtraining and workforcedevelopment to wraparoundsupport services and careercoaching, from economicdevelopment support forbusiness to avocationaland recreational coursesand community serviceopportunities.The comprehensive feasibilitystudy that was conductedfor the community collegelooked at programming,but among other points,it also showed that theErie views itself proudly as a maker city–its people definethemselves as hard working and steadfast in the face of adversity.Erieites are undeniably resilient, and now their grit is beingtested during this period of renewal as they retool, retrain, andband together behind strategies that support a brighter future.Erie residents are proud of their affordable quality of life closeto Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie, geographic proximityto their larger, neighboring markets in Cleveland, Buffalo, andPittsburgh, as well as an impressive host of cultural amenities nottypically found in a county of Erie’s size.Anchored by a wave of energetic, committed leaders, Erie isseeing light on the horizon through strategic investments frombusinesses and foundations into key sectors as well as a renewedcommitment to revitalization and growth in key industrysegments such as healthcare (hospital and education), insurance,stabilization of the manufacturing industry, and tourism.The cover of the 543-pagefeasibility study.A better future for Erie CountyA collective vision of a better future is gaining traction withinkey sectors and demographics of the community. The feasibilitystudy research affirms that a stand-alone community college isan essential component of that future.an economic and educational future supported by a vibrantcommunity that will link all these pieces together.We are confident that the following report not only meetsthe State Board of Education and Pennsylvania Departmentof Education requirements for a community college, but alsomakes a rock-solid case for how that college can serve as atransformative catalyst for a more promising future for ourentire community.It is true that the nearly decade-old effort to generate thenecessary political support for a community college fellshort. This time, however, is different. The political will andcommunity support to establish a community college in Erienow exists. Driving thatcooperation is a sharedunderstanding of the growingneed for a community collegeas one of the essential pillarsof a broader effort to addressthe range of challenges facingErie.A strong economy relies on amultitude of industry sectorsworking in partnershipwith a highly trained andeducated workforce. Thepeople of Erie County haveseen what the economy lookslike without a communitycollege, and they are eagerto set a course toward5
Chapter 1: BackgroundPurpose and ObjectivesThe objectives of this application are to concisely present thefindings derived from a community college feasibility studyand to propose a plan for a community college to serve ErieCounty based on the results of that study.Pennsylvania. Parker Phillips, an Erie-based consulting firmwith employees in Pennsylvania and Minnesota, conducted theErie County Community College Feasibility Report, releasedin May 2017. The feasibility study focused on Erie County, butthe Community College expects to draw from Crawford andWarren counties, as well as other communities in the region.Empower Erie managed the extensive research process andcoordinated the necessary community input and professionalexpertise to develop this application.This application has been completed pursuant to TheCommunity College Act of 1963 (PL1132, Act 484) thatprovides the requirements and guidelines for the establishmentof a community college. The research methodology utilized bythe feasibility study to determine the demand and need for acommunity college incorporated the methods outlined in theGuidelines for the Establishment of Public Community Collegein Pennsylvania (“Guidelines”), updated in August 2016.The workforce development research process institutedthrough the study process can, and will, be replicated overtime to reexamine the regional employers’ workforce needs.We will use what we learn not only to shape and continuallyinform a community college, but also to shape the county’sbroader business retention, expansion, attraction, andeconomic development efforts.The outreach and scope of the feasibility study follow therequirements of the Guidelines. The study, among its manyfindings, examined the employment and workforce profileand the Community College’s programmatic needs to evaluatethe potential for a community college to serve northwestProcessAdvocates for a community college in Erie County knew fromthe start that a strategic and thoughtful approach emphasizingconsensus-building and participation in the process was criticalfor a proposed community college to become a reality in ErieCounty. To that end, Empower Erie, a non-profit organization,was created to be a catalyst for change in Erie County byadvocating for a community college as a key driver to advancethe next generation of Erie’s workforce and improve Erie’soverall economic landscape.every aspect of the project, including the progress of severalworking groups, as well as all aspects of a feasibility study, proforma financial plan, and economic impact study. All meetingswere structured and included an agenda and meeting minutes.In addition, a concerted outreach campaign was launched thatresulted in a series of endorsements and demonstrations ofsupport from a wide range of community stakeholders. Resultsfrom this outreach campaign included resolutions passedby the City of Erie School District and other municipal andschool district bodies, as well as endorsements from severallocal labor unions. Empower Erie’s extensive communityoutreach program also included working closely with existingcolleges and higher education organizations to assure greatercooperation and to develop programming that is not duplicativeand meets the current and ongoing needs of the community.Transparency has also been another critical element throughoutthe process. In order to be as transparent as possible, EmpowerErie’s website has made project documents, the full researchstudy, presentations, community college information resources,and Commonwealth documents available. Local media hasbeen actively following our progress from the inception of theresearch through the development of this application, reachingthousands of residents throughout Erie County.Empower Erie applied for and received the Erie CommunityFoundation’s Shaping Tomorrow Grant, which specificallycharged the Empower Erie team to establish a communitycollege in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Erie Community Foundation,The Susan Hirt Hagen Fund for Transformational Philanthropyand the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority jointlyawarded 300,000 to Empower Erie to study the feasibilityof creating a stand-alone community college. In addition,upon approval of the study, another 3.7 million will be madeavailable to implement the community college plan.With seed money and the promise of significant fundingsecured, Empower Erie launched its strategic plan to laythe groundwork to gain broad support and perform the duediligence necessary to make a community college a reality.Empower Erie assembled a 9-member volunteer board ofdirectors consisting of educators, community leaders, attorneysand social service professionals to serve as leadership team andthe decision-making body for the effort. The board has met on aweekly basis and devoted countless hours to discuss and reviewUltimately, the process that was established allowed for an indepth analysis of the need for a community college while alsosystematically building widespread support for a communitycollege that will meet the needs of students and employers,while providing long-term benefit to the entire community.6
Empower Erie’s Web Site.Local SponsorErie County will serve as the legal sponsor of the proposedcommunity college. As the lo
We have the ability to change our community's future. Erie County Community College Submitted to: The State Board of Education 333 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 Submitted by: The County of Erie 140 West Sixth Street, Room 116 Erie, PA 16501-1081 June 2017 A Proposal for the Establishment of a Public Community College in Erie County .
The Erie Community College Board of Trustees Resolution Regarding Erie Community College Space Inventory Audit June 27, 2019 WHEREAS; SUNY Erie Community College (the College) has neglected to accurately maintain the physical
Thomas Talarico, Nicole Inan . Pennsylvania Policy Forum, from Solicitor, Richard Perhacs, in which he stated "Empower Erie" and the "Western Pennsylvania Policy Forum" are private entities separate and distinct from the County of Erie." Mr. Davis's question to Council regarding this is that, if Empower Erie is separate from the County, why did Tim McNair current Chair of Empower Erie send a .
improvements and upgrades to Erie Community College. He stated that Erie Community College is underfunded. In order to provide equity throughout the county, broadband access must be improved. Also, an increase in funding for the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Syst
Erie Community College (College) was founded in 1946 and became a part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system in 1948. The College is located in Erie County (County) and has three campuses, one located in the City of Buffalo (City Campus), another in the Town of Orchard Park (South Campus) and a third campus in the Town of
The half-billion-dollar investment underway in Erie's downtown creates opportunity and will generate new programming and collaboration opportunities for an Erie County community college. The philanthropic community has committed 4 million to support the establishment of the community college, lessening the public contribution.
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95 Franklin Street, 14th Floor Buffalo, New York 14202 William.Geary@erie.gov Erie County Legislature April N.M. Baskin Chair of the Legistlature Erie County Legislature 92 Franklin Street - 4th Floor Buffalo, New York 14202 April.McCants-Baskin@erie.gov
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