Erie, PA – August 5, 2025. In a new partnership, Erie County Community College (EC3) and Erie County Technical School (ECTS) will offer a free dual credit welding program for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors this Fall as part of the 2025 Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program.
"We are proud to announce this transformative partnership with Erie County Technical School, which offers ECTS students a direct path to earn up to 24 college credits in the one-year dual credit welding program. This opportunity not only accelerates their career readiness but also significantly reduces the cost and time required to complete a college degree. Students will earn four industry credentials in welding that will connect them to employers and jobs in a high-demand career field. Students who complete this one-year program will have already completed half of their Associate of Applied Science: Industrial Technology degree before graduating high school, at no cost!" Says Jennifer Kline, Associate Dean of Academics at EC3.
Classes will begin on Monday, August 18th, and will be held at the Skill Center, located at ECTS/EC3 Summit (8500 Oliver Rd., Erie, PA 16505). Morning sessions run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and are open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Afternoon sessions run Monday through Friday from 1p.m. until 4:30 p.m. and are open to high school seniors.
Matt LaVerde, Executive Director of Erie County Technical School stated, "Erie County Technical School is excited to build on our partnership with EC3 with these new Dual Enrollment programs. They allow us to better serve students, families, and businesses in our greater Erie Region in a way we could not have done on our own."
Weekly information sessions about the program are held virtually on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and at 6 p.m. For more information, please contact Jennifer Kline at jkline@ec3pa.org.
