Lackawanna College Accepting Career Fair Registrations

Lackawanna College is hosting a career/internship fair on Thursday, April 7 from 11-3 p.m.

Location:
Lackawanna College Student Union
500 Jefferson Avenue
Scranton, PA

Registration Fee: $75.00
Payment: Check, Money Order
Registration Deadline: March 24, 2022

Registration Link: Click HERE

If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding the date, please contact career@lackawanna.edu

Lackawanna College Police Academy Receives Donation

Lackawanna College staff, along with the family of the late Andrew J. Jones, accept a $7,700 donation from Valley Aviation to the Andrew J. Jones memorial fund. Andrew J. Jones, “AJ” is a 2018 alumnus of the Hazleton Police Academy’s 240th class who passed away as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident in 2019. Jones served as a full-time officer for the Swoyersville Police Department and as a part-time officer for the Exeter Police Department.

Speaker and Sports Activist Kyle Richard Addresses Lackawanna College Students

Lackawanna College welcomed guest speaker Kyle Richard on January 27 to share his story with students and the Scranton community, promote active bystanders and speak about violence prevention awareness.

“Richard’s presentation is an important part of our initiative to educate and engage our students in bystander awareness,” said Tierny Ulmer Cresswell, Student Wellness Program Director. “We are honored to host Richard and provide our students with an opportunity to hear his heroic story.”

Richard is a former SUNY Cortland linebacker and football team captain who was shot twice during the summer of 2017 when he intervened to stop a sexual assault. Due to his experience, Richard has become a nationally known and influential advocate for bystander intervention and the prevention of sexual assault. Richard has received several awards for his heroism, including the notable Biden Courage Award for Bystander Intervention from It’s On Us and the Biden Foundation, the Orange Bowl Award and the Next Generation Award.

“I’m beyond excited to get the year kicked off at Lackawanna College,” said Richard. “I shared my story to provide a wide range of emotions through vulnerability & to motivate athletes, students and faculty to continue doing their part in preventing sexual & domestic violence.”

The Kyle Richard event was part of Lackawanna College’s “It’s On Us Lackawanna” project, which was funded by a grant award from the 2020-2021 Governor’s It’s On Us PA grant program.

NET Credit Union Expands Partnership with Lackawanna College

NET Credit Union recently furthered their partnership with their Preferred Partner Group, Lackawanna College, by offering tuition-free classes to NET employees.  

Under the agreement, qualifying NET Credit Union employees can pursue an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree at Lackawanna College. Lackawanna College offers over thirty different degrees, majors, and certificates.

“We are excited to further our relationship with NET Credit Union with this free tuition announcement.  We are also grateful for NET’s investment in their employees as well as their trust in us to offer them an amazing opportunity to continue their education,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. Our programs are designed to meet the relevant needs of today’s workforce by making college affordable and accessible for everyone.”

“The Lackawanna College Business Partnership Scholarship Initiative helps businesses of all sizes develop and retain employees,” said Jeff Gregory, Director of College Enrollment Partnerships. “A partnership with Lackawanna College includes a tuition scholarship that can be offered to employees, allowing the workforce to pursue a bachelor’s or associate degree.”

“This program will simultaneously help grow our employees’ personal development, as well as the capabilities of our business. NET Credit Union is thrilled to partner with Lackawanna College in this program,” states Clarence Baltrusaitis, NET Credit Union CEO.

Lackawanna College is a Preferred Partner Group of NET Credit Union. This means all students, staff, and faculty are eligible to Bank on NET.  The tuition program not only benefits our relationship with Lackawanna College, but it also strengthens our employee benefits. NET Credit Union looks forward to furthering our partnership with Lackawanna College.

Lackawanna College to Host Kyle Richard

On Thursday, January 27 at noon, the Lackawanna College Student Wellness Program will host guest speaker Kyle Richard at the Peoples Security Bank Theater, 501 Vine St., Scranton. Richard will share his story with students to promote active bystanders and speak about violence prevention awareness.

The Kyle Richard event is part of Lackawanna College’s “It’s On Us Lackawanna” project, which was funded by a grant award from Governor Tom Wolf’s 2020-2021 It’s On Us PA grant program.

Treasurer Garrity Visits Lackawanna College School of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Treasurer Stacy Garrity toured Lackawanna College School of Petroleum and Natural Gas, then took part in a roundtable discussion about education opportunities and economics in the region. Representatives of Lackawanna College, the Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center, Northern Tier Industrial Education Center, Commonwealth Charitable Management, the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce, the Wyoming County Community Alliance, and Coterra took part in the roundtable discussions.

Treasurer Garrity shared the importance of the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program as a tool to support workforce development and help families save to make education of all types more affordable. She also emphasized the need for the Keystone Saves legislation. Keystone Saves allows employers who don’t currently have retirement plans for employees to provide retirement savings options to more than two million Pennsylvanians.

“Lackawanna College’s School of Petroleum and Natural Gas is a crucial resource here in the northeast, where local industries need highly skilled workers,” Garrity said. “Programs like Treasury’s PA 529 program can help make education more affordable for students by offering tax-advantaged savings options to help pay for any type of higher education, including the many career-focused certificates and two-and four-year degrees offered right here in their own backyard.”

The PA 529 College and Career Savings Program offers families two plans to choose from, the PA 529 Investment Plan (IP) and the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP). IP account earnings are based on financial market performance, while GSP earnings are based on college tuition inflation.

Both plans offer generous tax benefits including a state income tax deduction on contributions (up to $16,000 per beneficiary per year; $32,000 for married couples); PA state and federal tax-free contribution growth; no income tax paid on account growth when used for qualified expenses; and gift and inheritance tax benefits. Families can learn more about how to start saving with PA 529 plans at pa529.com or by calling 800-440-4000.

“The Pennsylvania 529 plan is a great benefit for families and our communities,” said Sue Gumble, Director of the Lackawanna School of Petroleum and Natural Gas. “A career in the energy industry can be life-changing. This program financially prepares students for college, providing them with the means to pursue a degree and graduate prepared to enter the workforce.”

“While our PA 529 program helps students pay for critical job-force training, there is potential for the same model to work to help them save throughout their careers and be better prepared for retirement,” Garrity said. “Proposed Keystone Saves legislation is by far the most business-friendly state retirement program out there, and it is so important that we make it a reality to help our friends and neighbors — our favorite waitress, hairstylist or mechanic — people we all know — have an easy way to save for retirement. It’s also a big boost for employers who would be able to offer retirement benefits to attract and retain more workers.”

Keystone Saves, which will be introduced as HB 2156 by prime sponsor Rep. Tracy Pennycuick (R) and co-sponsor Rep. Michael Driscoll (D), will expand retirement savings opportunities for more than two million Pennsylvanians. The business-friendly program lets employers offer retirement plans without having to worry about start-up costs, program liability, and other red tape that keeps them from doing so. Businesses will simply provide an employee census to Treasury and process a payroll deduction.

Keystone Saves will be administered much like the PA 529 program as a public-private partnership. Employees maintain complete control of their accounts, and the accounts can follow them from job to job. The proposed legislation already has more than 50 co-sponsors from across the commonwealth. Ten other states have enacted similar legislation.

“Keystone Saves is a win, win, win,” Garrity said. “Employers can offer a great benefit, hardworking Pennsylvanians get an easy way to save for retirement, and taxpayers save billions of dollars, because it’s estimated that without action unprepared retirees will cost Pennsylvanians more than $14 billion over 15 years to cover extra social services costs.” “It’s clear that Treasurer Garrity understands the crucial role that energy plays in our country’s economy and workforce development,” said George Stark, Director of External Affairs at Coterra Energy. “Her eagerness to learn about our industry is refreshing and we’re excited for the chance to share more about our commitment to the community and environmental excellence.”

Lackawanna College Announces Tuition-Free Education Partnership with Allied Services

Lackawanna College announced a new partnership which will allow employees at one of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s largest non-profit healthcare systems to attend college tuition-free. 

Under the agreement, eligible employees at Allied Services Integrated Health System can pursue a bachelor’s or an associate degree at Lackawanna College. Full-time and part-time employees at Allied Services will be eligible for the Lackawanna College Business Partners Scholarship which covers tuition for the Fall and Spring semesters.  

“The need for trained healthcare professionals in our area continues to grow,” stated Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. “Our evolving partnership with Allied Services enhances the quality of our area’s healthcare services by filling in-demand positions with a skilled workforce. Opportunities like this make college affordable and accessible – a great equalizer for families and our communities.” 

This latest partnership enhances Allied Services’ existing tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement programs for employees. In 2021, Allied Services and Lackawanna College announced a new nursing scholarship to provide full tuition for eligible students in Lackawanna College’s nursing associate degree program. Students awarded these scholarships can work at Allied Services while continuing their education and be guaranteed a full-time position upon graduation and licensure as a registered nurse. In addition, Allied Services offers its own scholarship and tuition assistance programs to support a diverse workforce that includes mental health workers, mechanics, therapists, accountants, nutritionists, social workers, and many more.  

“As a leading employer in Northeast and Central Pennsylvania, we recognize the importance and value of investing in our employees, their families, and their futures,” said Attorney Bill Conaboy, President and CEO. “Our employees are at the heart of all we do for our patients, our residents, and our communities. We look forward to supporting them as they pursue their personal and professional goals. ” 

The public-private partnership is one of many that are in the works at Lackawanna College that will cover a student’s full tuition. 

“The Lackawanna College Business Partnership Scholarship Initiative helps businesses of all sizes develop and retain employees,” said Jeff Gregory, Director of College Enrollment Partnerships. “A partnership with Lackawanna College includes a tuition scholarship that can be offered to employees, allowing the workforce to pursue a bachelor’s or associate degree.” 

Lackawanna College Awarded Grant to Support Diversity Initiatives

A $2,500 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence will help Lackawanna College build a multi-stage diversity and inclusion improvement plan. 

The grant will provide funds for the College to hire a consultant service to assist in creating and administering a comprehensive institutional equity audit. The audit will focus on the student experience, examining organizational practices and policies related to diversity and inclusion.

“There’s a need to identify the College’s strengths and weaknesses, so we can create a more vibrant college community, improving the experience for all students, particularly those who have been traditionally marginalized and underrepresented,” said Joya Whittington, project director. “I’m grateful that we were approved for this grant so we can begin to implement institutional and social change.”

Faculty and staff members on the College’s Diversity, Equity, Justice and Inclusion (DEJI) committee will lead the project. Branching off from the audit, the committee will establish a multi-phase Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) improvement action plan and initiate short and long-term educational activities.

Lackawanna College Awarded Grant to Enhance Electricity Education

Lackawanna College has been awarded $20,000 from the TC Energy Foundation to enhance electricity training for students in the College’s School of Petroleum and Natural Gas located in Tunkhannock, Pa.

The grant allows the College to purchase state-of-the-art simulation equipment that will train students on components and situations found in modern electrical circuits.

“We are grateful to the TC Energy Foundation for its support of our programs,” said Susan Gumble, director of the School of Petroleum and Natural Gas. “Electricity education and hands-on training play an integral role in preparing our students for successful careers in the natural gas industry.”

The funding will also be used for printed materials, including lab books and workbooks that students will use while taking electricity-related courses.

“Building strong communities through giving back is an integral part of our values,” said Trevence Mitchell, Assistant Director of the TC Energy Foundation. “We are proud to support the next generation of skilled tradespeople and thank Lackawanna College for providing students the necessary training to ensure they are ready to enter the workforce.”

For more information on the Lackawanna College Tunkhannock Center, home of the School of Petroleum and Natural Gas, visit https://www.lackawanna.edu/tunkhannock.

Lackawanna College Police Academy Graduates Sponsored Police Academy Cadets

Ten cadets graduated from the Lackawanna College Police Academy on Dec. 2, ready to begin careers in law enforcement with the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre police departments.

The newest group of cadets make up the 255th graduating cadet class and are part of a partially funded program by the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC). Municipalities are eligible for partial reimbursement if they hire a cadet prior to the start of an Academy training program.

“The Academy staff and administration are proud of the graduates of class 255,” said John Chilleri, Director of the Lackawanna College Police Academy. “This is the first class where all cadets were hired as full-time officers by a municipality prior to the start of the program.”

The partnership between the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre police departments, MPOETC, and Lackawanna College to train cadets is an example of the commitment the College has made to meet the needs of law enforcement in NEPA.

“We are very excited to have our four officers fully trained and certified,” Chief Joseph Coffay of the Wilkes-Barre Police Department said. “They will be an added asset to the department and I am sure they are happy to finish their academic requirements and are happy to begin their career serving the citizens of Wilkes-Barre.”

Thanks to an Act 89 annual grant of $5 million authorized in 2019, the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton Police Departments are eligible for partial reimbursement by MPOETC after cadets complete the program. MPOETC will reimburse the departments 75% of the tuition and 45% of the hourly wage for the required hours of training for any cadet hired by the department and paid to attend the Lackawanna College Police Academy. 

“The Scranton Police Department is excited to have six new officers joining the ranks of our department,” Scranton Police Department Chief Leonard Namiotka said. “It was also special that the entire graduating class was sponsored by the respective agencies of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. I am also thrilled that Act 89 will be reimbursing the City 75% of the tuition and 45% of the hourly wage for the required hours of training for the cadets. This will allow that money to be spent on more items such as training and equipment for the department to better serve the community.”

Graduates from Class 255 included William Ardoline, Dupont; Adam Bisignani, City of Scranton; James Griffith, City of Scranton.; Carlos Muniz Jr., Wilkes-Barre; Richard Olshefski, Mountain Top; Cameron Rawlings, City of Scranton; Thomas Stornable, City of Scranton; Kevin Sweeney, City of Scranton; William Wilk, Plymouth, and Zachary Zelinski, City of Scranton.