ERIE, Pa. – Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) and Erie County Community College (EC3) have signed an academic agreement to aid current and future students in their academic journeys between institutions.
Leadership from the respective institutions met at the Corry Higher Education Council on Tuesday, October 3, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. for a formal event to sign the agreement into effect. Each institution will begin honoring course equivalencies as soon as the spring 2024 term, with the formal agreement going into effect in Fall 2024.
The agreement communicates course equivalencies between the two institutions. The goal is to better serve students who are currently residing or may reside in Erie County in the future. The agreement helps ensure clear communication regarding courses and programs at each institution and creates more seamless transferability.
The academic agreement will be honored for five years, and consistent reviews of course equivalencies will occur. These reviews are aimed to support learners to have smooth transitions between institutions. Northern Pennsylvania Regional College President, Susan Snelick, shared, “We celebrate this significant milestone for both NPRC and EC3. The official signing of this academic agreement is the result of dedicated collaboration between our institutions. This partnership with Erie County Community College will provide pathways and opportunities for our students to focus on their individual needs. This agreement provides a ‘no-wrong door’ approach for current and future students as they navigate their academic journeys. We look forward to working together to serve our communities and learners.”
Erie County Community College President, Dr. Chris Gray, provided similar sentiments, “We are thrilled to partner with NPRC. This partnership allows us the opportunity to better serve our northwest Pennsylvania population of students and make things as seamless as possible for them. This is just one of the many articulations EC3 has established, and we will continue to establish more as the college grows.”
EC3 Board of Trustees member and former Corry Mayor, Dave Mitchell, shared to those in attendance, “This is not just the signing of an agreement. This is a new day for education. We needed to work together for the good of students in northwestern Pennsylvania.” Former NPRC Chief of Staff and current NPRC Board of Trustees member, Duane Vicini, added, “Today was the beginning of a tremendous opportunity. I’m so proud of everyone who has made this agreement happen. I think the sky is the limit with between EC3 and NPRC.”
NPRC offers five associate degrees, including business administration, criminal justice, early childhood education, liberal studies, and social sciences, while EC3 currently offers seven associate degree pathways in applied business, network systems, programming, mobile application development, criminal justice, and arts.
Photo caption: Pictured from left to right are EC3 Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Guy Goodman; EC3 President Dr. Chris Gray; NPRC President Susan Snelick; and NPRC Vice President of Academic Affairs and Accreditation Liaison Officer Mindy Saunders. These institutional representatives signed the academic agreement on behalf of EC3 and NPRC at the Corry Higher Education Council on Tuesday afternoon.
About NPRC: Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) is authorized by the PA Department of Education to award associate degrees and certificates in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. NPRC is an open-admission, two-year institution of higher education. The College’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible post-secondary education to the residents of northern Pennsylvania. NPRC brings affordable education to a 10-county region (Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Venango, and Warren). With flexible scheduling options at numerous instructional locations, attending Northern Pennsylvania Regional is an excellent option for individuals interested in furthering their education close to home. With a growing team of high-quality industry-leading instructors directing our classrooms, students are empowered by a welcoming community to change their lives and brighten their futures. NPRC is a candidate for accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). https://regionalcollegepa.org.
About EC3: Erie County Community College (EC3), America’s newest community college, is a comprehensive community college located in northwest Pennsylvania currently offering various associate degrees and certificates. EC3 is focused on enhancing the county’s economic condition by increasing educational opportunities for the diverse population in Erie County and assisting individuals to enter careers that provide family-sustaining wages.