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Porreco College

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Beginning last year, Edinboro University announced that its Porreco Center in Millcreek Township would undergo an $11-million expansion and be renamed Porreco College, offering low-cost associate and job training programs, similar to those that a community college might offer. Now, a year later, the Business Magazine asked Edinboro University President Julie Wollman to provide an update on the current changes at the college.

To give our readers some background, what drove the University’s decision to rename and expand the Porreco campus?
Responsiveness to the evolving needs of the broader community is part of Edinboro University’s mission, and our 2013-2018 Strategic Plan included the creation of Porreco College as a means of influencing the development of a thriving region. The university had the resources of our Porreco campus, the expertise of our faculty and staff, and an innovative plan to fill a longunmet need in the Erie region. Through the privately funded Porreco Promise scholarships, we are able to provide a high-quality, workforce-focused university education at a cost comparable to community colleges in Pennsylvania.

What changes have taken place so far and what has yet to be done?
The biggest changes have been the addition of associate degree programs that can be completed in their entirety at Porreco College. In terms of physical changes, the kitchen is under renovation, thanks in part to a grant from the Erie Community Foundation, so that food service is available to the growing population of students. In addition, we’re exploring the most cost-effective options for expanding classroom space to meet the demand, which has been even greater than we anticipated.

What programs do you offer and what are some of the newest additions?
This fall we are offering associate degrees in Applied Technology, Business Administration, Human Services — Social Services, Criminal Justice and Liberal Studies. In addition, participants in Penelec’s Power Systems Institute training program for prospective line workers are beginning work on their Applied Technology – Electric Utilities Technology associate degrees. Students interested in early childhood education can also take classes leading to credentials in that field.

Why did you decide to look at the community college model? How will your new associate and job training programs help address the growing skills gap in our region?
Meeting the needs of employers, raising educational attainment and addressing poverty in our region require high-quality educational programs that are delivered affordably and targeted to existing jobs. That’s essentially the community college model. At Porreco College, we are doing all of those things through private support for students and close collaboration with employers to ensure our offerings match workforce needs. Our partners include GE Transportation, Penelec/First Energy, LECOM Health, Erie Homes for Children and Adults, and others. We also are working with the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership on its Project Jobs initiative, which is designed to determine the workforce needs of today and in five years.

What is the current enrollment and how have these plans for the campus impacted that number?
Enrollment continues to exceed our targets. More than 230 new students enrolled in 2014-15, for a total of more than 400, and by early July more than 350 additional students had applied for admission this fall.

We would be remiss if we did not mention the influence that late Erie businessman Lou Porreco had on the Porreco College. What do you want our readers to know about his contributions and involvement and what he envisioned for the campus?
Lou and his wife, Debbie, have been great supporters of Edinboro University’s efforts at Porreco College. Their financial contributions have been tremendous — notably Lou’s gift of the Millcreek property to the university in 1986 and Lou and Debbie’s commitment of $1 million to launch the Porreco Promise scholarships in 2014 — but Lou also was very personally interested in the work we are doing and the opportunities we offer students. He believed in education and shared our commitment to student success.

Is there anything you would like to add?
We at Edinboro University and Porreco College are very proud to be working with many great partners in the Erie region’s business community, and we invite other employers to collaborate with us to create solutions to their training needs.