Lehigh Carbon Community College Archives

Grant to help boost Hispanic STEM education at LCCC

Lehigh Carbon Community College has received a boost to efforts to get Hispanic students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The National Science Foundation has given the school a three-year, $200,000 grant to increase the number of Hispanic students in STEM classes.

The grant will support a first-year experience course for Hispanic students to attract them to STEM majors. In addition, the project will address improving students’ sense of belonging to a career where Hispanic and Latino graduates are not well represented.

It is expected that between 30 and 40 STEM-interested Hispanic students will enroll in the STEM track.

Hispanic enrollment at colleges and universities nationwide has increased by 34% over the past few years. More Hispanics are entering the workforce, yet LCCC said STEM education is lagging behind. Just 8% of the STEM workforce identify as Hispanic.

LCCC has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, with a student body comprised of more than 28% Hispanic or Latino students.

The college developed the Aspira First-Year Experience initiative to support Hispanic students with their transition to college, understanding that developing a sense of belonging has a dramatic impact on students’ academic performance. With this NSF funding, the existing Aspira program will be adapted to a pilot program specific to STEM-interested Hispanic students.

This course will incorporate topics integral to Hispanic student success, including motivation, self-management, goal setting, critical thinking, test taking and career exploration. Students will learn about STEM fields and hear from Hispanic leaders from local companies about the STEM industry.

Scholarships, peer mentoring and faculty professional development will also be offered.

SLUHN and Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley team up to train workers

St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) and the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley have teamed up to assist workers to train for and access employment opportunities in health care.

The Cultural & Linguistic Workforce Development Centers, funded by a $450,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, will be offering English classes, General Education Development (GED) and specialized training in several health care positions starting this fall.

SLUHN said the centers will operate at Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley (HCLV) in South Side Bethlehem and SLUHN’s Sacred Heart Campus in Center City Allentown. Services will be offered to program participants in collaboration with Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC), Northampton Community College (NCC), and The Literacy Center.

Workforce Board Lehigh Valley is co-located at St. Luke’s Sacred Heart site and participants can be referred as needed.

“The Workforce Development Centers are providing the Lehigh Valley community the opportunity to train for high-priority skilled occupations in health care while learning employability skills and developing a career ladder for professional growth,” said Victoria Montero, executive director, (HCLV).

Participants will work with bilingual Workforce Development Coordinators to identify career goals and barriers to employment. Participants will create individualized action plans to complete English as a Second Language (ESL) and/or GED programs through community partner organizations.

Starting this fall, participants also can enroll in programs that could lead to jobs as phlebotomist, nurse’s aide, dental assistant, emergency medical technician, community health worker, EKG technician and pharmacy technician, SLUHN said.

“The programs are 12 to 20 weeks, so participants can get educated quickly and be qualified for jobs that are not only important to the health of the community but also rewarding,” said Lauren Loeffler, Workforce Development/Community Education and dean at NCC.

“This program is important to St. Luke’s because it will develop a pipeline of qualified, bilingual healthcare workers,” said Dr. Rajika Reed, vice president of St. Luke’s Community Health. “These efforts will also market the region to diverse, motivated individuals looking to relocate as they know there are established trainings and employment opportunities.”

Classes will be held at sites in Bethlehem and Allentown. The Bethlehem classes will be held at NCC, while classes in Allentown will be held at St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Campus, LCCC and The Literacy Center.

“The Literacy Center has been providing ESL classes since 1977 and we look forward to continuing to provide these classes at St. Luke’s Sacred Heart,” said Jennifer Doyle, executive director.

“Lehigh Carbon Community College is very much looking forward to participating in this partnership to help train students for healthcare careers,” said Jennifer Leach, Job Training Healthcare Specialist at LCCC. “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 13% from 2021-2031.”

Participants must meet Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) eligibility requirements.

Lehigh Valley community college officials elected to state commission

Two Lehigh Valley community college officials were elected to serve on the executive committee of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.

The nonprofit that advocates for the state’s 15 community colleges, said Ann Bieber, president of Lehigh Carbon Community College was elected vice chair, and Robert Fehnel, Board of Trustees chair for Northampton Community College, was elected treasurer.

They will serve on the executive committee through June 30, 2025.

Bieber was appointed the fifth president of Lehigh Carbon Community College in 2014. She began her career at the college in 1981 and over the years held numerous positions including senior vice president of administrative services and dean of continuing education.

Bieber serves as a member of the Lehigh Valley Partnership and on the board of directors for the Workforce Board Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, KidsPeace, Manufacturers Resource Center, Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority, Century Promise and the DaVinci Science Center.

Fehnel was elected chair of the Northampton Community College board of trustees in 2014, after serving as vice chair for ten years. His 35-year service on the board includes 25 years as chair of the board’s finance and college facilities committee.

Fehnel’s commitment to community service and public education includes 31 years of service on local school boards, including 20 years as president of the Wilson Area School Board. He is in his second term on the Easton Area School Board. He also serves on the Chrin Family Foundation which supports STEM Programs for Easton School District students.

Fehnel is a graduate of Northampton Community College. He is employed as the director of print and mail operations for BerkOne in Bethlehem.

The other executive committee members elected are Tuesday Stanley, president of Westmoreland County Community College, chair; and Catherine R. O’Donnell, Board of Trustees chair of Luzerne County Community College, secretary.

According to the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges, the state’s community colleges, with 80 campus locations, are the largest provider of postsecondary education and workforce training in the Commonwealth.

The colleges educate more than 230,000 students from all 67 counties. More than110,000 students are enrolled in the colleges’ workforce development programs and over 75% of those programs align with High Priority Occupations as identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

LCCC receives grant to aid Hispanic male students; one of 15 nationwide

Lehigh Carbon Community College received a $75,000 grant to advance its efforts to reduce barriers that Hispanic male students face and create an environment conducive to success.

LCCC said it is one of only 15 community colleges nationwide to receive a grant from the University of Southern California’s Race and Equity Center for the project “Takeoff Initiative – College Men of Color” which is funded by the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) Foundation.

In the past five years, Hispanic enrollment at LCCC increased by 18% and in 2019, the college was recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the US Department of Education.

Currently, 28% of LCCC students are Hispanic/Latino, LCCC said.

Data from the Postsecondary National Policy Institute indicates that most Hispanic male students enter higher education at a community college. For these students, entering college can be fraught with barriers, including affordability, limited access to educational resources and systemic conditions that impact their sense of belonging and cultural identity.

LCCC said it strives to reduce barriers for Hispanic male students; however, inequities still exist. For example, 31% of first-time, full-time students entering in Fall 2018 were Hispanic, yet only 17% completed their program within 150% of normal time, compared to 31% of White students.

Since earning HSI status, the college has implemented several initiatives to serve Latino students, including a Latino Student Success Committee to uncover systemic inequities, Aspira First-Year Experience seminar to support and empower new Hispanic students, the iCare Network that offers individualized support, and the student-led Latin@ Leadership Club.

In addition, the grant will support:

Policy audit to uncover possible implicit biases in policies and regulations that adversely impact Hispanic male students, to be led by an ethnically diverse work group under the guidance of a USC-appointed DEI coach.
Expansion of new teaching methods that best serve the college’s Hispanic male students, such as co-teaching with bilingual faculty, creating more culturally relevant course content, and offering Spanish-only courses for English Language Learners.
Expansion of student success coaches to help students explore how they can achieve career and academic goals.
Faculty and staff coaching and professional development.

“The college has an incredibly rich and diverse student body, and we are committed to providing the resources to help all students be successful,” said LCCC President Ann D. Bieber. “This grant specifically will allow us to add a number of initiatives that can directly impact the success of our male Hispanic students. Building a stronger community and enhancing the sense of belonging at LCCC will create an even stronger college to serve the needs of our community.”

LCCC partners to offer concurrent nursing education

To help students get high-level credentialing sooner, Lehigh Carbon Community College has signed an agreement with Grand Canyon University to offer a concurrent enrollment pathway for students in Nursing.

Participating students would complete their Registered Nursing (RN) degree and start coursework for their Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree online with Grand Canyon University during the academic breaks from LCCC.

LCCC called it a highly accelerated program for motivated students.

The program can be started at any time during the nursing program since curriculum pathways are lined up for various points of entry.

Participating students will be able to receive the concurrent coursework at a discounted price.

Students interested in more information on the program can contact Fauzia Graham, LCCC’s transfer advisor, at [email protected].

Agreements open door to music education

Recording studio at Millersville University – PHOTO/MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY –

Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) music students can transition to Millersville University’s Music Industry program.

LCCC is one of three schools to enter into agreements with Millersville University (MU) to allow students with eligible associate degrees in sound recording, music technology, sound production or music to easily transfer to MU’s four-year program.

The Community College of Philadelphia and Montgomery County Community College have also signed agreements with MU.

Students with associate degrees in sound recording, music technology, sound projection or music with at least a 2.0 grade-point average to be eligible to pursue a bachelor’s degree through the Tell School of Music, MU said.

The agreement between Community College of Philadelphia was finalized on Nov. 22, 2022, followed by the agreement with Lehigh Carbon Community College on Aug. 15, 2022. Montgomery County Community College’s agreement was finalized on Jan. 20, 2023.

Millersville’s Music Industry program combines recording, live audio and music business classes into one major. Students in the program participate in the “Creative Campus” program as performers, entrepreneurs and educators, interact with visiting professionals and participate in real-world projects, the university said.

“We are thrilled to add these three schools to our reciprocal agreements,” says Dr. Barry Atticks, associate professor of music business technology at the Tell School of Music. “Students from these schools can seamlessly complete their bachelor’s in music industry degree in two years and focus on working on their craft.”

Atticks said the agreements allow students in Pennsylvania to take advantage of the Clair Brothers Music Business Technology Program at Millersville, which includes music production, live audio and music management.

These agreements support Millersville University’s efforts to enhance Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s dedication to workforce development in the state, the university said.

LCCC adding electrical and computer engineering technology degree program

Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville is offering a new associate degree program aimed at those looking for a career in electrical and computer fields.

The school will be offering an A.A.S in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology, which will prepare students for careers in both industries.

Graduates can find technical positions in fields such as telecommunications, biomedical, manufacturing and energy production.

According to LCCC, students in the program will develop the skills to analyze, design and implement electrical and computer systems.

Graduates will be qualified for jobs such as electrical and computer engineering technician, electronics technician, software engineering technician, systems and hardware development technician, assistant system designer and installer, industrial maintenance technician, quality control technician or technical writer.

The program can be completed in as little as four semesters. The school said industry support for the new program is strong, with promising options for employment.

The program will be available starting in the Fall 2023 semester.

LCCC to offer cybersecurity camp for teachers

Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) has received a grant to offer a professional development course in cybersecurity for elementary, middle and high school teachers.

The National Security Agency and the GenCyber offer grants to schools to address the shortfall of skilled cybersecurity professionals in a time of increased cybersecurity issues.

LCCC’s GenCyber Camp for teachers of grades 7-12 will be held June 12-16 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at LCCC’s Schnecksville campus. The camp will be offered as a three-credit special topics course for college credit and at no charge to the student.

An information session will be held Feb. 9 for interested applicants.

The camp provides opportunities for teachers in Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Berks counties to collaborate and explore cybersecurity topics that are appropriate for all secondary age groups. Topics include computer components, computer networks, cryptography, cybersecurity, safe online behavior and cyber ethics, LCCC said.

The goals of the GenCyber program are to:

Improve teaching methods for delivering cybersecurity content in secondary schools

Create a network of teachers who strive to create better digital citizens among today’s students
Increase interest in cybersecurity careers and promote diversity in the cybersecurity workforce
Empower students with the essential skills for safe online behavior

Teachers will be compensated for their participation with a daily stipend. An additional stipend is included for participation in the virtual pre-camp and post-camp sessions.

To receive an invitation to the information session, email GenCyber@LVLCCC.edu. Those who are selected will need to apply to become an LCCC student.

LCCC receives $1M to renovate downtown Allentown campus

Lehigh Carbon Community College will receive $1 million in state funding through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RCAP) to fund façade and roof renovations at its downtown Allentown Donley Center. The funds come from State Senator Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, and representatives Peter Schweyer, D-Allentown, and Mike Schlossberg, D-Allentown, and are part of a total $7.5 million that has been secured for several downtown Allentown projects.

Since 1999, LCCC’s Donley Center has been downtown Allentown’s hub for education and job training. Each year, more than 500 degree-seeking students attend classes at the site to prepare for jobs in healthcare, business and criminal justice among others.

Enrollment at the Allentown site reflects the city’s demographics, with nearly 65% of students identifying as Hispanic. LCCC also offers noncredit programs, such as English as a Second Language and Literacy courses to support city residents in their job-seeking efforts and personal development.

Allentown has expanded around the Donley Center, which is in need of renovations to update the building’s finish to match the surrounding downtown developments. The seven-story site sits on 0.18-acres in downtown Allentown.

Constructed in 1902, the building was remodeled in the 1940s with the addition of the seventh floor and stucco facing. LCCC purchased the building in 1999 and renovated it to accommodate a college campus.

The college will match the $1 million grant with an additional $1 million for the total project cost.

Sen. Browne and Reps. Schweyer and Schlossberg worked together to ensure that funds allow organizations to continue their vital work, with projects ranging from restoring vacant and historic buildings, supporting area college capital projects, and renovations to nonprofit organizations’ facilities.

LCCC President Dr. Ann D. Bieber said, “The college’s first campus opened in downtown Allentown in 1966, so the college’s presence in the downtown area is integral to our service to the community. We appreciate our area legislators’ commitment to higher education and to a vital college center in Allentown.

Drexel tuition discount offered to LCCC and NCC grads

Students graduating with an associate degree from either Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) or Northampton Community College (NCC) can receive a renewable 50% tuition discount at Drexel

Dr. Ann Bieber –

University as part of the university’s new Drexel Promise Program.

The program, which begins in fall 2023, is designed to increase the accessibility and affordability of a Drexel degree.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our students at LCCC, and we thank Drexel University for providing an equitable pathway, through the Drexel Promise Program, for students to attain their higher education goals,” said Dr. Ann Bieber, president of Lehigh Carbon Community College.

“Affordability is such a large hurdle for many college students, but especially so for those attending community colleges who come from lower income backgrounds,” said Dr. David Ruth, president of Northampton Community College. “The Drexel Promise Program

David Ruth –

addresses that head on and will open the door for many of our students who are focused on transferring to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree.”

There is no additional form or application required for graduates from LCCC or NCC to be considered for the program. However, to be eligible students must be enrolled full-time, on-campus and maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA for a maximum of 12 academic quarters.

For information about transferring from Lehigh Carbon Community College, contact Fauzia Graham, LCCC’s transfer advisor, at [email protected] or call 610-799-1691. For information about transferring from Northampton Community College, call 610-861-5346 or email [email protected].

LCCC expands opportunities for graduates to pursue bachelor’s degree

Lehigh Carbon Community College –

Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) has expanded opportunities for its graduates to pursue a bachelor’s degree with a transfer agreement with Western Governors University (WGU).

The Schnecksville college entered into the agreement recently with the nonprofit online institution that offers a low-cost option for LCCC graduates to complete their bachelor’s degree online through asynchronous coursework while continuing to work, LCCC said in a press release.

This agreement will provide a closer partnership for students to move smoothly from degree completion at LCCC to bachelor’s achievement online. Since 2018, a total of 91 students have transferred to WGU.

The agreement offers the following notable benefits to LCCC graduates:

Transfer Pathways, including specific LCCC credit equivalencies
Scholarship opportunities valued up to $2,500, based on student eligibility

Waiver of application fees

Employees at LCCC can also take advantage of this new pathway to a bachelor’s degree or professional development.

WGU degree programs include accounting, business, computer science, cybersecurity, education, information technology and nursing.

Groups partner to address staffing needs in child care industry

The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is getting involved in a statewide effort to address the worker shortage crisis in the child care industry.

According to the agency, connecting individuals to employment has proven difficult throughout recent months, and the child care industry is no exception. A recent survey reports that nearly 100 classrooms are closed in the Greater Lehigh Valley and over 92% of programs have a staffing shortage.

“With a staffing crisis greatly affecting our child care sector, access to high quality early learning and child care opportunities are decreasing for families. We are taking action to connect job seekers to open opportunities available,” stated Akshara Vivekananthan, director of school readiness for the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Across the state of Pennsylvania, child care providers have faced serious challenges in staffing their facilities, which prevents them from providing the quality care they strive to maintain.

In response to these shortages, hundreds of child care programs from across Pennsylvania are coordinating Child Care Hiring Days for PA from March 29 through March 31.

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has partnered with PennAEYC, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Greater Valley YMCA and The Children’s Center to ensure that Lehigh Valley child care organizations have a presence and to raise local awareness of the statewide staffing shortages.

“When child care programs can’t open classrooms or open at all due to staffing issues, it makes it challenging for parents to work and ultimately impacts business productivity and the overall economy,” said Jen DeBell, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children, a statewide, non-profit membership organization that advocates for high-quality early care and education opportunities for children and families and appropriate compensation and support for the professionals that provide these programs.

Over these three days, participating programs will host walk-in hiring events, featuring on-the-spot interviews at their locations. Many locations will be offering competitive salaries and benefits, signing bonuses, tuition reimbursement, continuing education and on-the-job training.

“In a moment of truth, we know this hiring event is a temporary solution. We are counting on our legislators to save child care as we need continued investments so all children have equitable access to a healthy start,” Vivekananthan added.

This state-wide hiring event aims to simplify the job search and hiring process for job seekers, help participating programs reach potential applicants and promote the rewards of working in early childhood education.

Interested programs can learn how to participate with the Child Care Hiring Days for PA by visiting ECEhire.com or emailing Akshara Vivekananthan at [email protected].

Job seekers can view the entire list of careers and locations performing interviews during the Child Care Hiring Event on ECEhire.com.

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Tag: Lehigh Carbon Community College

Grant to help boost Hispanic STEM education at LCCC

LCCC partners to offer concurrent nursing education

LCCC adding electrical and computer engineering technology degree program

LCCC receives $1M to renovate downtown Allentown campus

Groups partner to address staffing needs in child care industry