Erie County Community College (EC3) is Pennsylvania's fifteenth community college, and before our establishment, Erie was the largest metropolitan area in the state without a community college. The formation of EC3 was the result of years of dedicated advocacy and tireless research. Our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan defines how EC3 will expand access to affordable education, grow high-demand workforce programs, and become the region's most trusted educational partner for Erie County residents, employers, and communities.
About EC3's Strategic Plan
EC3's 2025–2030 Strategic Plan was developed through extensive input from EC3 leadership, the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, and community stakeholders. It reflects the needs of Erie County students, the priorities of regional employers, and EC3's founding commitment to removing the barriers that keep people from pursuing an education.
This plan guides every decision EC3 makes, from the programs we launch to the partnerships we build through 2030.
Planning period: 2025-2030
Final Plan Approved: April 2022
EC3's Mission, Vision, & Values
Mission:
To empower individual learners and cultivate a skilled workforce to strengthen Erie County.
Vision:
To transform lives and strengthen communities by providing affordable access to innovative education and workforce training, and to foster the economic stability of Erie County.
Core Values:
- Welcoming & Collaborative Environment — To serve a dynamic region with diverse perspectives, EC3 will provide a welcoming environment focused on collaboration and partnership, within the college and through the greater community.
- Innovative & Excellent Education — To develop students to be their most successful, EC3 will pioneer a modern, creative curriculum, upholding the highest standards in post-secondary education.
- Workforce & Economic Impact — To strengthen Erie County’s workforce and economic development, EC3 aligns its curriculum with evolving industry needs to equip graduates with the skills and confidence to achieve their career goals.
- Intentional & Sustainable Growth — To ensure financial vitality, EC3 is dedicated to “growth through excellence”, growing at a pace in alignment with planned outcomes while being adaptive to its environment.
2025-2030 Strategic Goals
EC3's strategic goals establish the foundation for everything the college will accomplish over the next five years.
1. Ensuring Access and Student Success
EC3 is committed to making higher education reachable for every Erie County resident. This goal addresses financial, geographic, and logistical barriers that prevent students from enrolling and completing their education.
Key Initiatives:
- Increase enrollment to 2,000 by 2030.
- Increase the high school matriculation rate to 10% of county students by 2030.
- Ensure financial aid implementation accounts for 20% of incoming student revenue.
- Maintain a retention rate aligned with peer institutions.
- Maintain a completion rate aligned with peer institutions.
- Establish and sustain 30 articulation agreements with strong institutional relationships by 2030.
2. Advancing Academic Excellence
EC3 will grow, refine, and align its academic programs to maximize student outcomes — from completion rates to job placement.
Key Initiatives:
- Maintain course success rate above the National Average.
- Increase the course success of hybrid and online courses.
- Ensure 80% student course satisfaction using the BlackBoard course eval tool.
- Ensure 100% of full-time staff receive annual training.
EC3 currently offers 20+ programs across three pathways: transfer, applied associate degrees, and workforce certificates, with plans to grow this portfolio through 2030.
3. Advance Workforce Development & Employer Partnerships
EC3 serves as Erie County's primary bridge between education and employment. This goal focuses on developing the skilled workforce that Erie County employers need and connecting EC3 graduates to living-wage jobs.
Key Initiatives:
- 90% of graduates believe that EC3 prepared them with career skills.
- 100% of CTE graduates will have work-based learning at graduation.
- EC3 will have 50 partnerships with local businesses, leading to internships/externships.
In-demand program areas EC3 is growing:
- Healthcare: CNA, LPN, patient care tech, surgical tech, nursing
- Skilled trades: welding, technical certificates
- Criminal justice: associate degrees and transfer pathways
- Business & technology: IT infrastructure, application development
4. Scaling for Organizational Growth
For EC3 to serve Erie County long-term, the institution must build strong internal systems — financial, operational, and organizational.
Key Initiatives:
- Achieve and maintain MSCHE accreditation.
- Maintain financial health with CPI in the range of accepted MSCHE standards.
- Develop standardized operating procedures across 100% of departments to optimize efficiency.
- Increase foundation giving by 10% annually and support 50 students through scholarships by 2030.
Frequently Asked Questions About EC3's Strategic Plan
What is EC3's strategic plan?
EC3's 2025–2030 Strategic Plan is a five-year roadmap that guides Erie County Community College's priorities in access, academics, workforce development, institutional sustainability, and community engagement. It was developed with input from students, faculty, staff, employers, and the broader Erie County community.
What programs is EC3 expanding through 2030?
How does EC3 make college affordable for Erie, PA, residents?
Where is Erie County Community College located?
