History & Facts

Explore the legacy of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (formerly Cambria County Area Community College). Since our founding, we have dedicated ourselves to providing accessible, high-quality education to our community. Our history highlights a strong commitment to student success, regional development, and affordable learning. We believe that understanding our past helps us better serve our students today and in the future.

Read through the timeline below to learn more about our leadership, milestones, and positive impact that we continue to make across the region.

Founding and Early Years (1993-1999)

• 1993: Cambria County Commissioners voted to sponsor the Cambria County Area Community College (CCACC). The State Board of Education approved its establishment. A 15-member Board of Trustees was appointed in October.
• 1994: Dr. John O. Hunter became the founding President. Classes began on September 6.
• 1996: The College became a candidate for accreditation by the Middle States Association.
• 1998: In March, the College inaugurated its first downtown Johnstown location in Central Park with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. That same month, the College also opened its northern campus at Bishop Carroll High School. The campus was later relocated to the current Ebensburg Center location.
• 1998: The College held its first-ever athletics event on November 13, featuring a men’s basketball game against Butler County Community College.
• 1999: Dr. Kathleen V. Davis succeeded Dr. Hunter as the second President.

Growth and Expansion (2000-2013)

• 2002: Full accreditation was granted. Dr. Anna D. Weitz became the third President.
• 2004: The College was renamed Pennsylvania Highlands Community College to reflect a regional focus.
• 2007: Dr. Walter Asonevich was appointed as the fourth President. The College also established its first true home with the opening of its Richland Campus.
• 2009: The College expands its footprint into Huntingdon County. Our first classes in Huntingdon were held on August 24.
• 2010: The College expanded its footprint into Somerset County, holding its first classes there on January 19. Additionally, Athletics was reintroduced after a nine-year hiatus, with the College hosting its first women’s volleyball match on September 1.
• 2013:  The College expands to Blair County with the a new location in the Logan Valley Mall.

Modern Developments (2014-Present)

• 2014: The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships granted the College national accreditation for its Accelerated College Education concurrent enrollment program.
• 2017: The Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed the accreditation for Pennsylvania Highlands.
• 2018: The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designated the College as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE2Y).
• 2020: Dr. Steven C. Nunez became the fifth President.
• 2021: The College introduced an Honors Program and acquired its first owned property in Richland.
• 2022: The College assumed oversight of the Regional Police Academy, which is now named the Penn Highlands Police Academy.
• 2023: The Criminal Justice Training Center was established.
• 2024: The Institute of Cyber Security launched, and new locations were announced in Bellefonte (Centre County) and Downtown Johnstown.
• 2025: In March, the Cambria Regional Chamber honored the College with a Community Impact Award. This was followed in September with the launch of Penn Highlands Online, an enhanced digital platform offering degrees and certificates.