Coalition of Area Community Colleges and PASSHE Universities Benefits Students

Pennsylvania Community Colleges and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) are advancing transfer partnership reforms that will make college more accessible and more affordable for Pennsylvania college students. With the support of Governor Josh Shapiro and a bipartisan coalition of state legislators, Act 69 of 2024 guarantees junior status for community college graduates at PASSHE institutions. The new transfer partnership was signed by presidents representing a strong regional effort in eastern Pennsylvania that encompasses Lehigh Carbon Community College, Northampton Community College and Luzerne County Community College, in partnership with Kutztown University, East Stroudsburg University and Commonwealth University.

Each community college is working with their PASSHE regional transfer partner to determine initiatives that help students access the most efficient, most affordable pathway to a college degree. The innovative transfer partnership will guarantee junior status to all community college graduates attending a PASSHE school and make more scholarship opportunities for students to help reduce the cost of earning a college degree in Pennsylvania.

Looking to their geographic strengths, the partnership pathways focus will be Lehigh Carbon Community College to Kutztown University, Northampton County Community College to East Stroudsburg University, and Luzerne County Community College to Commonwealth University.



In addition to making a college degree more accessible and more affordable, the new transfer partnership will foster greater collaboration among the colleges through marketing campaigns and other administrative efficiencies.

The following presidents have made a commitment to working together and have met over several months with their staff members representing enrollment and marketing:

Dr. Ann D. Bieber, president, Lehigh Carbon Community College

Dr. Bashar W. Hanna, president, Commonwealth University (formerly Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities)

Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson, president, Kutztown University

Kenneth Long, president, East Stroudsburg University

Dr. David A. Ruth, president, Northampton Community College

John Yudichak, president, Luzerne County Community College

The full press release can be viewed here.

LCCC Begins Accreditation Process

In 2024 LCCC entered the beginning stages of the accreditation process which will culminate in 2027 per the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). This multi-year collaborative process involves important benchmarks including the creation and subsequent approval of a Self-Study Design, Self-Study Report and on-site evaluation by MSCHE.

There are seven key stages to this process. LCCC is currently in the second stage, which consists of the creation of a Self-Study Design (SSD) that has been submitted to MSCHE for review. The Steering Committee will receive feedback on the SSD in April during a campus visit by Dr. Ryan Hartnett, MSCHE VP for Institutional Field Relations. The Steering Committee will then incorporate the feedback into the SSD and resubmit for review. Once the Self-Study Design has been approved by MSCHE, it will be made available on the website.

Questions and feedback regarding the accreditation process can be directed at any point in the process to msche@lccc.edu.

Updates on the accreditation process will be provided as the College moves through all stages.

LCCC Hosts Spring Job Fairs

The Career Development Center at LCCC is hosting Spring 2025 Job Fairs at the main campus in Schnecksville, the Tamaqua site at the Morgan Center and the Allentown site at the Donley Center.

Below are the scheduled fairs.

Tamaqua: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 11, 234 High Street, Tamaqua

Allentown: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 13, 718 Hamilton Street, Allentown

Schnecksville (main): 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursday, April 10, 4525 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville

Job fairs provide an opportunity for local and regional employers to network and recruit talented LCCC students, alumni and community members from throughout the region. Job opportunities include full-time, part-time, seasonal and internships. We anticipate high volumes that include 2025 upcoming graduates at LCCC and from partnering high schools.

These events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Career Development Center at 610-799-1090 or email careerservices@lccc.edu. Details on additional job fairs are available here.

Around Campus

Professor Anne Ryan's women and gender studies students, among others, shared their favorite poems, stories and art at the "Revolutionary Love" event. They brought the campus community together to celebrate the arts and appreciate the craft of storytelling.

The Art Portfolio Review event gave students in art, communication and design programs the chance to connect with four-year institutions and discuss portfolio requirements for transferring, as well as the many opportunities available to them.

Students had the chance to meet with several local organizations to discuss internship and volunteer opportunities at the Internship/Volunteer Fair.

Intramurals are in full swing with workshops, weekly yoga, step aerobics and monthly runs. The first badminton tournament was held in February. LCCC Intramurals hosts a myriad of activities for students, faculty and staff to focus on wellness.

Important Dates for March

Mar 5 Alumni Speaker Series, Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Mar 7 Fall Registration for Veteran and Military Students Opens

Mar 10 Fall Registration Opens

Mar 11 Job Fair at Morgan Center, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Mar 13 Job Fair at Donley Center, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Mar 17 - 22 Spring Break - No Daytime, Evening or Saturday Classes

Mar 26 Spring Transfer Fair, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Lehigh Carbon Community College President

Dr. Ann D. Bieber

LCCC Board of Trustees

LCCC Foundation Board of Directors

Alumni Association Board of Directors