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  • Medical Assisting Program earns CAAHEP Accreditation

    Posted October 10, 2016 at 11:36 am

    Update: As of March 2023, the Medical Assisting Technology degree is no longer accredited by CAAHEP.

    The Medical Assisting Technology (A.A.S.) associate degree program at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has earned CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) accreditation. CAAHEP, the largest programmatic accreditor in the health sciences field, reviews and accredits over 2,000 educational programs in 28 health science occupations. CAAHEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

    This programmatic accreditation for Medical Assisting Technology indicates that the associate degree program is held to higher standards than most. In order to achieve formal accreditation, the Medical Assisting program underwent heavy review and an intensive site visit from an independent, external team. This team evaluated various metrics, including, but not limited to: retention, placement in the field, employer satisfaction, instructional methodology, and faculty credentials. To maintain accreditation status, the Medical Assisting program must continue to meet these benchmarks.

    Gaynelle Schmieder, Associate Professor of Health Care Professions and also filling the role of Medical Assisting Program Director, discusses the significance of this achievement.

    “The CAAHEP accreditation process benefited our Medical Assisting program exponentially,” Schmeider said. “It helped us identify strengths, weaknesses, and focal points for improvement; all to ensure our graduates are prepared and confident to begin their careers when they leave Penn Highlands.”

    Penn Highlands’ students will benefit the most from CAAHEP accreditation. Those that graduate from Penn Highlands with a Medical Assisting Technology degree will automatically be qualified to sit for the AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants) exam and become certified medical assistants. Medical assisting, a multi-skilled allied health profession, allows medical assistants to function as members of the healthcare delivery team by performing both administrative and clinical procedures.

    “Pennsylvania Highlands certainly recognizes the critical need for highly skilled and trained medical professionals,” said Dr. Walter Asonevich, College President. “We are committed to ensuring academic excellence by offering programming that meets and exceeds national standards and places our graduates in the best possible employment situations.”

    Funding to support preparations for meeting the CAAHEP accreditation standards was provided by a grant from Lee Initiatives. The Medical Assisting program at Penn Highlands Community College requires students to obtain at least 61 credits before they receive an associate degree.

    CAAHEP

  • College appoints Assistant Vice President of Information Technology

    Posted October 5, 2016 at 9:40 am
    Matt Hoffman, Assistant Vice President of Information Technology

    Matt Hoffman, Assistant Vice President of Information Technology

    Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Matthew Hoffman as the College’s Assistant Vice President of Information Technology.

    Mr. Hoffman will manage the College’s Information Technology Department. In his role, he will provide leadership, vision, and support for classroom technologies, prioritize all projects related to Information Technology, grow and mentor all Information Technology staff, and more. He holds a Master of Science in Information Technology System Design and Programming Specialization from Capella University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications from Robert Morris University.

    Mr. Hoffman comes to us from Concurrent Technologies Corporation with a strong leadership and management background in Information Technology.

  • College appoints two VPs to serve Student Services & External Affairs

    Posted September 16, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has made appointments at the level of vice president to better serve and advance our region.

    Trish Corle was recently appointed the Vice President of Student Services, and continues to serve as the Title IX Coordinator and Right to Know Officer. In her new role, she will oversee and manage all Enrollment Management services, including recruitment, admissions, and retention. In addition, Ms. Corle will administer the Student Judicial Process, serve as the Chief Student Affairs Administrator, and direct the development and direction of the College’s brand through marketing campaigns and strategies. Her leadership in these areas will cover all five regional locations that encompass Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

    Ms. Corle has been with Penn Highlands since 2010, most recently serving as the Associate Vice President for External Relations. Trish currently serves as a Ferndale Borough Councilwoman, and is a member of the Cambria County Transit Authority and Incline Plane Board of Directors. She holds a master’s degree in Health and Human Service Administration and is the President and CEO of Corle Consulting, a company dedicated to providing low to no cost consulting services to nonprofit and human service organizations.

    Dr. Melissa Murray was recently appointed the Associate Vice President of External Affairs. She will manage various aspects of External Affairs, including, but not limited, the following: overseeing the College’s Foundation; supporting and nurturing the College’s relationships with local, county, state, and federally elected officials; serving as grant administrator; providing leadership to the School Partnership Programs (such as the nationally accredited Accelerated College Education Program); building educational partnerships with external organizations; and advising the College President with the creation and implementation of institutional development policies.

    Dr. Murray has been with the College since 2010, most recently serving as Dean of School Partnerships Program. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Service Administration and Leadership Studies from IUP, a M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling from Penn State, and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to Penn Highlands, Melissa was the Director of Institutional Development/Director of Marketing at the Hiram G. Andrews Center, and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 2 at the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. She currently serves on the Greater Johnstown Chamber of Commerce Women’s Information Network Committee, Greater Johnstown School District’s Occupational Advisory Committee, and has served as Lead Team Peer Reviewer and Coach for the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships accreditation application.

  • Local, State, and College Officials hold Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at new Somerset facility

    Posted September 7, 2016 at 2:16 pm

    With the fall semester underway and the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Somerset Center thriving in its new home at the recently renamed Somerset County Education Center, local and state officials joined with College officials to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of Wednesday, September 7th. These officials took a moment to honor this new chapter in the story of Penn Highlands Community College and Somerset County.

    Those in attendance include: Brenda Thomas, representative for Senator Pat Stefano; Somerset County Commissioners John Vatavuk, James Yoder and Gerald Walker; Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Penn Highlands Community College; Adam Bowser, Director of the Somerset Center; Ron Aldom, Executive Director of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce; and Jose Otero, representative for Congressman Keith Rothfus.

    The Penn Highlands Somerset facility, at 6024 Glades Pike in Somerset, houses two classrooms, a computer lab, a science lab, a testing room, a faculty work room, and a staff suite. This will allow Penn Highlands Somerset to offer degrees in Accounting, Business Management, Criminal Justice, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Psychology, and Technology Management.

    Ribbon Cutting Somerset

    Photo of Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Pictured (from left to right): Brenda Thomas, representative for Senator Pat Stefano; Somerset County Commissioners John Vatavuk, James Yoder and Gerald Walker; Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Penn Highlands Community College; Adam Bowser, Director of the Somerset Center; Ron Aldom, Executive Director of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce; and Jose Otero, representative for Congressman Keith Rothfus.

  • Penn Highlands to assist Students affected by Closing of DuBois Business College & ITT Technical Institute

    Posted at 11:03 am

    As ITT Technical Institute and DuBois Business College have announced they will close their doors this month, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College will utilize the experience it gained from a similar situation to help these students complete their education.

    Penn Highlands, a local community college, worked closely with staff and students from Cambria-Rowe Business College over the summer to create transition plans for students looking to complete their education and find success. Currently, 40 former Cambria-Rowe students are enrolled in various programs at Penn Highlands Community College.

    “First and foremost we want to say that we sympathize with these students from ITT Technical Institute and Dubois Business College,” said Dr. Walter Asonevich, President of Penn Highlands Community College. “A college education is a very personal experience and this is not the experience they had anticipated. The good news is that we have been through this with students from Cambria-Rowe, so we understand how the teach-out plans and transfer of credits will work.”

    Representatives from the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College are available to assist and to advise these students affected by the closing of DuBois Business College and ITT Tech. Our goal is to ensure that each of these students has a plan in place to complete his or her education.

    Penn Highlands has served more than 52,000 community members with quality and affordable academic options for over 20 years. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College recognizes its role and responsibility to these students and to the entire community during this difficult time. Penn Highlands is here to help.