Northern Tier Career Center and Penn State Wilkes-Barre Partner

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education Associate Donna Yale (above, left) and Northern Tier Career Center director Gary Martell announced a new collaboration between the educational bodies.

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Anticipated in the Fall of 2018, the Northern Tier Career Center (NTCC) will partner with Penn State Wilkes-Barre to offer a pilot program in Information Technology to the students of Bradford and Sullivan Counties’ high schools. Students will be simultaneously enrolled in a two-year PDE approved Program of Study in Information Technology (IT) at NTCC and a 12-credit Information Sciences and Technology Certificate Program through Penn State Wilkes-Barre. In addition to the Penn State certificate, students will have the benefit of earning the 12 credits, which can be applied toward the pursuit of an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. This partnership was formed in response to the needs of the community and industry in this high demand occupation and to maximize students’ opportunities to earn industry credentials and post-secondary educational credits while in high school. The IT program is ideal for students who wish to pursue career pathways such as technical support provider, systems programmer, cyber security specialist, webmaster, network administrator, and telecommunications specialist.

The first of its kind, this joint effort between NTCC and its eight sending school districts with Penn State Wilkes-Barre reflects a cost-sharing model between the entities that will make these credits available to students at the significantly reduced rate of only $100 per credit. Individuals who have been instrumental in orchestrating this collaborative effort for the benefit of students include Dr. Dale Jones, Chancellor, Penn State Wilkes-Barre; Donna Yale, Continuing Education Associate, Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education Northern Tier Center, Towanda, PA; Jane Ashton, Director of Continuing Education, Penn State Wilkes-Barre; Gary Martell, Director and Jennifer Farley, Administrator of Educational Services, Northern Tier Career Center, with the support of the Superintendents of the participating districts.

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