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College partners with local Industry to reinstate Award-Winning Program

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has partnered with FirstEnergy Corp’s Pennsylvania utilities, including Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), Metropolitan Edison, West Penn Power, and Pennsylvania Power, to reinstate the award-winning Power Systems Institute program. The Power Systems Institute is a two-year program that combines hands-on utility skills training at Penelec’s Johnstown Training Facility with academic coursework from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

FirstEnergy covers the cost of tuition for those who meet their selection criteria and program graduates are awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electric Utility Technology from Penn Highlands. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, these students stand to have a median annual salary of $69,400 if they stay in Pennsylvania and work within this field.

In addition to Penelec, Penn Highlands Community College maintains local and regional partnerships with multiple industries, including health and human services, manufacturing, transportation, and economic development, to advance its mission of providing quality and affordable opportunities for learning that meet regional needs.

For more information about the Power Systems Institute, call 1.800.829.6801 or visit www.firstenergycorp.com/psi.

Penn Highlands and FirstEnergy recently welcomed its new class of students into the program for the Fall 2015 semester. The program will train the next generation of utility substation workers. Photo taken at Penelec’s Johnstown Training Facility.

New Dental Assistant Program to begin in September through Continuing Education

Continuing Education at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will be offering a new Dental Assistant training program beginning this fall. The Dental Assistant program will provide students with the necessary knowledge and hands-on skills needed for an entry-level position as a dental assistant.

Dental Assistant will cover the areas of dental theory and terminology, four-handed chair side procedures, exposing and processing dental radiographs (x-rays), infection control standards, preparing dental materials, and effective patient communication. In addition to the classroom lectures and labs, students will be afforded the opportunity to take part in hands-on training through an 80-hour clinical externship at a local dental clinic

Students that successfully complete the program will also be prepared to sit for the Radiology Health and Safety examination.

The Dental Assistant program begins on September 14th, and will conclude on November 23rd. Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays at our Richland Campus, from 5pm to 9pm. The program tuition is $1,199.

For payment options and registration information, please contact Continuing Education at 814.262.3815 or continuinged@pennhighlands.edu.

Media Production Student to attend Confer Radio Talent Institute

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College student Glenn Barbis, of Johnstown, will be attending an intensive 10-day radio conference at Bloomsburg University in Columbia County, PA. Glenn Barbis is a second-year Media Production student who heard about the Confer Radio Talent Institute through Forever Media, Inc. Forever Media is assisting with tuition and meals for a deserving student to attend the Institute. The College’s Media Production Club at the College is also assisting with Glenn’s room at the conference.

The Institute, being held from July 10 through July 16, includes between thirty and forty radio professionals, all touching on aspects of the radio industry including on-air, sales, sports, news, production, management, marketing, programming, etc. Students participating in the institute often have a substantially higher rate of post-graduate placement in beginning their careers. To date, 7 out of 10 participants are working in radio or a related field.

Forever Media of Johnstown operates stations Froggy 95, 96 Key, Hot 92, Cool 101.7, Rocky 99, and others throughout the region. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College offers quality, affordable academic programming to residents of the Southern Alleghenies and beyond.

Adjunct Faculty Member awarded Doctoral Degree

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has announced that Jessica Barron, Adjunct Faculty in Computer Technology and Communications, has earned an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology and Leadership from Duquesne University. Ms. Barron’s dissertation, “Comparison of a Video Game Based Learning Environment and a Traditional Learning Environment,” was successfully defended this past spring on May 26, 2015.

Ms. Barron, a resident of Boswell, PA, has been an adjunct with the College since August of 2012. In addition to her teaching, she has presented at regional and national conferences, and has led training workshops through the College’s Workforce Education department.

Assistant Professor awarded Doctoral Degree

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College recently announced that John Westley (Wes) McMichael, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion, was awarded the Ph.D. in Philosophy from the State University of New York at Albany.

Mr. McMichael is a resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. His doctoral dissertation is, “Beyond Permissibility: Traversing the Many Moral Pitfalls of Abortion.” In addition to his teaching and advising, Mr. McMichael has served as Lead Humanities Instructor, Faculty Senate Chair, and Philosophy Club Advisor. He also works with Tranquility Gardens to offer guidance and inspire area youth.