Chris Gray, Ph.D.
Founding President, Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania
As I sit down to write today, I'm excited to announce that we're entering a new chapter as America's newest community college. We are now one step closer to accreditation!
From our earliest moments here at EC3, we've always believed that education should be both accessible and transformative to everyone. Today, I'm honored to share a significant milestone in our journey bringing that belief to life: EC3 is officially a Candidate Institution with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). This isn't just a bureaucratic step in which some boxes are checked off. Far from it! Rather, it's a transformative moment for our students and the Erie County community.
When Dr. Michael Victor, the chair of EC3's Board of Trustees, announced this incredible achievement, I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride in all the work that has gotten us to this point. MSCHE candidacy signifies that the work we do here at EC3 meets the highest standards of academic integrity and institutional effectiveness. It validates our efforts to ensure that each and every student who walks through our doors receives a quality education. But it's more than just meeting standards. It's about changing lives, which is what we are working to do. It's about opening new doors for our students and reaffirming our commitment to their future.
Getting to this point hasn't been easy. This achievement is the result of tireless work from a dedicated team of professionals. Vice President Goodman, Drs. Bowman and Blacklaw, Professor Forrester, and our CFO Frank Moore have all led the charge, with nearly every employee playing a role — whether it was researching, developing procedures, collecting data, or creating course curricula. This accomplishment belongs to all of us, and I am deeply grateful for the passion and commitment everyone has shown in getting us to this point.
EC3's students have always been our primary focus, and this MSCHE candidacy brings immediate benefits to them first and foremost. The academic credits they earn at EC3 are now more portable than ever. This helps to further enhance our existing articulation agreements with institutions like Gannon, Mercyhurst, Penn West, NPRC, Penn State University including the Behrend campus, and others. This also means that our graduates can transfer course credits earned here smoothly and continue their education without unnecessary barriers. Our partnerships have always been strong, but this recognition makes them even stronger.
For EC3 as an institution, this opens doors. We now have the opportunity to apply for Title IV funding through the U.S. Department of Education. Federal financial aid like grants, loans, and work-study programs will soon be within reach for our students. For many contemplating joining us to begin their educational journey, this will be the difference between merely dreaming of a college education and actually achieving it. It's a game-changer for EC3 and Erie County. We've taken another step toward making higher education more accessible and attainable for those who need it most.
And of course, the benefits of MSCHE candidacy aren't limited to individual students. This is definitely a win for the entire community. Our success isn't just about what happens inside our classrooms, after all. This will have a ripple effect on the surrounding area. By strengthening our academic standing and expanding access to financial aid, we're building a more educated, skilled workforce for Erie County. We are all working together to change our collective future.
As I reflect on this achievement, I can't help but feel that this is just the beginning. We've accomplished so much already, but there's so much more we can - and will - do. I'm incredibly proud of our faculty, staff, students, and everyone who worked together to make this moment possible. Together, we've laid a strong foundation, and together, we're now ready to build something even greater.
Thank you for your support and for believing in EC3's mission. This is such an important moment in our college's history, and I'm excited to see where we go from here.
Our community: your college.
