Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) welcomed the Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) on Wednesday, June 10 for a regional convening in Warren at the institutions Administrative Center. The event welcomed professionals from 14 counties across northwestern and northcentral Pennsylvania, including representatives from Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Venango, and Warren counties. This regional collaboration was held to address post-secondary workforce credential gaps via cross-section of stakeholders and educators.
The purpose of the Pennsylvania State Board of Higher Education is to provide direction, coordination, and support to ensure that institutions of higher education fully meet the workforce and economic development needs of this Commonwealth and ensure that all residents of this Commonwealth have access to affordable, world-class postsecondary education. The board is comprised of 21 members and supported by a staff of five professionals who assist in carrying out the organization’s work.
The goal of the gathering in Warren was to identify gaps, highlight what is working well for industry and higher education partnerships, and collaboratively develop recommendations that can inform future strategy, policy development, and technical assistance. Hosting these events across Pennsylvania is assisting with fulfilling the strategic plan that the Pennsylvania SBHE recently put in place to help both industry and education throughout the Commonwealth. Convenings were conducted in close coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education and the Bureau of Career and Technical Education across the state, with NPRC having the honor of hosting one for the region it serves.
The event featured two structured engagements, which included a morning roundtable with industry employers to surface employer needs, barriers, and opportunities and an afternoon stakeholder session with higher education, workforce, and community partners to react to strategic priorities, industry insights and identify next steps.
Several leaders from the College and our partnering organizations attended this event and learned about current and emerging workforce needs, hiring challenges and barriers, experiences working with postsecondary education and training providers, and opportunities for stronger alignment and responsiveness with local industry.
NPRC’s President Susie Snelick shared about the privilege of hosting this important event. “We were honored to host the State Board of Higher Education’s northwest and northcentral Regional Convening. This event provided opportunities for employers and stakeholders to share their challenges and showcase best practices all in effort to strengthen collaboration between higher education, stakeholders and our employers. The SBHE’s willingness to travel throughout the state listening to our needs indicates their strong desire to support and help shape the future.”
For more information about the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, visit here.
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