Lackawanna College to Help Local Hospitality and Leisure Industry

A new partnership between Lackawanna College Lake Region Center and the Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance aims to help local hospitality and leisure businesses grow their staff and train their existing workforce.

“The well-rounded training courses that we are offering will be crucial to helping our hospitality and leisure businesses start to rebuild their workforce that was drastically affected by the pandemic,” said Jennifer Passenti, Lackawanna College Lake Region Center Director “We are proud to work with the Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance to help this industry survive and continue to grow.”

USDA Rural Development awarded a grant to the Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance to provide internships and online training programs through the Lackawanna College Lake Region Center’s Continuing Education Department. Training courses include marketing and communications, design, Microsoft Office programs, skilled labor, and more.

“Workforce Alliance is offering paid internships and free training to qualified businesses in Wayne & Pike Counties,” said Lucyann Vierling, Workforce Alliance Executive Director. “Assisting our local businesses by providing much-needed resources to upskill existing or future staff, will not only assist individuals to retain or gain the skills that can lead to career advancement within the organization, but it also helps support the recovery efforts of the many businesses impacted by the pandemic.”

To get connected to the right training program, employers can complete the Train to Retain Form or call 570-390-7613 Ext. 702 for more information.

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Lackawanna College Plans for Return to In-Person Instruction for Fall 2021

After a year of adapting to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic through virtual and hybrid courses, Lackawanna College is planning a return to normal, in-person classes for the Fall 2021 semester.

“We are deciding to return to normal operations as soon as possible, based on the advice of state medical and public health experts, along with Lackawanna’s internal COVID-19 taskforce and with the support of our Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. “We are grateful to all of our students, faculty and staff who have worked together to ensure safety on our main campus and at all of our satellite centers.”

During the 2020–2021 academic year, Lackawanna College implemented policies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 at all College locations. Ongoing mitigation efforts include daily self-assessments, contact tracing, masking requirements and the installation of air filtration systems and cleaning measures.

Lackawanna College’s COVID-19 taskforce will continue to monitor the pandemic and maintain all existing health and safety precautions. Any future changes to the fall return plan will be dependent on the pandemic, vaccination distribution and state and local guideline recommendation changes.

Learn more at www.lackawanna.edu.

Lackawanna College and Johnson College Sign Articulation Agreement

Recently Lackawanna College and Johnson College signed an articulation agreement that gives Johnson College students the opportunity to transfer credits to Lackawanna College’s Bachelor of Science in Business program.

“Johnson College students already built a strong foundation through their learning experiences and will now be able to easily transfer into Lackawanna College’s Bachelor’s program to complete their degree,” said Dr. Jill A. Murray, Lackawanna College President. “Our business bachelor’s program allows students to stay local and earn their degree in a flexible and challenging program that will prepare them for careers.”

The bachelor’s degree in business at Lackawanna College prepares students for success in the business world with a diverse curriculum and a well-rounded education that produces career-ready graduates. Students can choose a marketing concentration or a lean entrepreneurship concentration to better hone their skills.

“Establishing this articulation agreement with Lackawanna College creates an opportunity for our students to build on the hands-on education they’ve already received and stack their credentials even more with a bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College. “This agreement strengthens the relationship between our two institutions and creates a more experienced workforce in our community.”

Allied Services Establishes Full Scholarships for Lackawanna College Nursing Students

Driven by a commitment to invest in life-long careers in healthcare in Northeastern Pa., Allied Services has created the Allied Services Nursing Scholarship to provide full tuition for eligible students in Lackawanna College’s nursing associate degree program.

Students awarded these scholarships will have the opportunity to work at Allied Services while continuing their education and be guaranteed a full-time position upon graduation and licensure as a Registered Nurse. Additionally, they will be awarded a sign-on bonus of up to $20,000.

“We are incredibly grateful to Allied Services for their significant investment in our nursing students,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. “Partnerships like this have a lasting impact on health outcomes in our communities. This opportunity will ensure that our graduates have acquired family-sustaining jobs and fill much-needed positions in our local healthcare facilities.”

Applications will be accepted until April 1 of a student’s first year and will be awarded in the Fall 2021 through Spring 2023 semesters to nine second-year students in Lackawanna’s nursing program. The scholarship will cover tuition, fees and textbooks.

“Allied Services Integrated Health System has a strong history of reinvesting in education for our employees’ career advancement,” said Bill Conaboy, Esq., President and CEO of Allied Services. “This new nursing education partnership is an excellent example of extending the same opportunities to deserving students who truly want to make a difference in healthcare by joining our team which helps thousands of people, especially the aging in our region and those with chronic illness, in long term care, home health, rehabilitation nursing, and hospice care”. 

The new scholarship opportunity aligns with Lackawanna College’s and Allied Services’ commitment to preparing students for careers in the field of healthcare, particularly in post-acute and long-term care.

More information about how to apply for the Allied Services Nursing Scholarship is available at lackawanna.edu/scholarships.

Lackawanna College Environmental Center Announces Free Core Manufacturing Program

The Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center (LCEEC) will host a free Core Manufacturing Skills certificate program beginning April 6 with in-person and online classes. The free 200-hour program will provide participants with skills necessary for entry-level positions in advanced manufacturing through classroom, simulation-based and online skill-building lessons.

“We are excited to be able to incorporate principles of sustainably into the third and final session of this popular program,” said Sharon Yanik-Craig, Center Director for LCEEC. “Green jobs aren’t just in renewable energy— existing manufacturing jobs can be enhanced by green knowledge to minimize negative environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources and maintain a safe working environment for employees”.

By completing the program and passing a final competency assessment, students will earn a Core Manufacturing Skills Certificate from Lackawanna College and NEPIRC, which is recognized by area manufacturing industry employers. The certificate will prepare graduates for positions in high-demand fields in environmental stewardship, maintenance, manufacturing, production, quality assurance and safety compliance.

For more information or to register, visit www.lackawanna.edu/enrichment.

Lackawanna College Announces Three New Board Members

Lackawanna College has announced the recent appointment of three new members to its Board of Trustees, Debra Leftkowitz, Mark DeStefano and Thomas R. DePietro.

“We are delighted to welcome these exceptional members to the Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. “They bring experience, talent and passion, which will help guide Lackawanna College as it continues to transform and fulfill its mission as an innovative leader in higher education.” 

Debra Lefkowitz is the President and CEO of Hocsocx, Inc., a line of bestselling protective shin guard socks for sports. Prior to the creation of Hocsocx, Inc., Lefkowitz owned a private practice working with patients on weight loss and nutrition for disease states. She has served on the board of directors for Temple Israel Wilkes-Barre, Jewish Community Center of Wyoming Valley, Maternal and Family Health Association and the Wyoming Seminary Parent’s Association.

Mark DeStefano serves as the CFO of Pagnotti Enterprises, Inc. and for the Latona Group of companies. DeStefano serves as a trustee and was the former President of the Board of the Women’s Resource Center. He also serves as trustee and was the former chair of the Everhart Museum, trustee of Broadway Theater League of Northeast Pennsylvania, and has served on the boards of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, Scranton Cultural Center, Keystone College, and several other local non-profit organizations.

Thomas R. DePietro is a pharmacist and owner of DiPietro’s Pharmacy, an independent pharmacy located in Dunmore, Pa. The pharmacy has received numerous awards and recognitions over the past eight years from the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. DePietro has been recognized for his philanthropy by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, NEPA Chapter. He is actively involved in promoting the pharmacy profession and serves on the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Independent Pharmacy Owner Committee and on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network.

Lackawanna College Named one of World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company

Lackawanna College announced today that it has been included in Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2021 for its Level Up program. The Level Up program responds to the national crisis surrounding the increasing cost of higher education by providing the opportunity for students to earn an associate degree while in high school.

Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies list highlights businesses and organizations that have made an impact and transformed their industry. Lackawanna College ranked No. 9 in the Corporate Social Responsibility category, which recognizes corporate initiatives that meaningfully make a positive contribution to their community and stakeholders.

“We are extremely honored to be recognized as one of Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President and Chief Innovation Officer. “At Lackawanna College, we are constantly seeking innovative ways to bridge the socio-economic gap and help students obtain a degree quickly and at significantly less cost. More than ever, students need alternative pathways to help them succeed and thrive in an ever-changing world.”

President Murray has made innovation a priority at Lackawanna College over the years. Programs such as the Falcons Athletic Learning Community and its Developmental Student Model have demonstrated a commitment to student success through innovation while newer projects such as Level Up, a Venture Lab, and e-commerce programs have been included in the college’s curriculum over the last few years. 

Lackawanna College would like to recognize its partnerships with local organizations like the Sordoni Family Foundation and the Scranton Area Foundation that continue to enhance enrollment capacity, deepen student learning and support resources that are reflective of Lackawanna’s mission and vision of serving as the “communities’ college”.

Lackawanna College Named a Military Friendly® School

Lackawanna College earned the 2021-2022 Military Friendly® School designation by VIQTORY. The College has received this designation multiple times. Each year, the list of Military Friendly® Schools is provided to service members and their families to aid them in selecting the best college, university, or trade school to receive the education and training needed to pursue a civilian career. More than 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-2022 survey, with 750 schools earning the designation.

Being designated as Military Friendly® means that Lackawanna College shows a commitment to creating sustainable civilian opportunities for veterans. The College has developed several academic and social support programs to make the process of navigating the college experience easier and ensuring that veteran students meet all requirements set out in the most recent GI Bill® of benefits.

“Our student veterans bring great qualities that enhance our college community,” said Catherine Fox, Student Life Coordinator and Veterans Advisor for Lackawanna College. “We are proud to be chapter members of Student Veterans of America. We have a fantastic veterans lounge and participate in SALUTE, a National Honor Society specific to student veterans. We appreciate everything these students have done for their country and want to ensure that they are given the resources they need to succeed in college.”

Data for the Military Friendly® designation is acquired from public data sources, proprietary data from the Military Friendly® survey and personal data from surveys from veterans. All determinations are made by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. The 2021-2022 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine. The list can also be found at www.militaryfriendly.com For more information about Lackawanna’s commitment to attracting and supporting military students, visit lackawanna.edu/veterans.

Lackawanna College Awarded $300K Grant to Expand NEPA Healthcare Workforce

Lackawanna College has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the NEPA Healthcare Foundation to help grow and retain northeastern Pennsylvania’s healthcare workforce through new and existing health sciences programs.

“This regional initiative deepens our relationships with NEPA health facilities, with a focus on providing an awareness of healthcare career opportunities and ensuring that Lackawanna College Health Sciences students continue to receive the high-quality education and licensure required to enter the field,” said Kelly Musti, Lackawanna College Dean of Health Sciences. “This grant will enable us to reach students at the beginning of their higher education journey, enhance our existing programs and establish additional programs in the areas that we serve.”

Lackawanna College will use the funding to launch the Healthcare Career Exploration Partnership in collaboration with local school districts, which will introduce students at the middle and high school levels to career opportunities in multiple healthcare disciplines. The main goal of this program will be to encourage qualified students to enroll into health sciences programs immediately after high school, ultimately increasing and diversifying the number of healthcare professionals trained and retained in NEPA.

Funds will also be used to support Lackawanna College’s existing health sciences programs and help establish Certified Clinical Medical Assistant programs at two of its locations.

“Through the Careers in Care initiative, the NEPA Health Care Foundation strives to make an impact to address the strains that the regional healthcare workforce is facing,” said James Clemente, NEPA Health Care Foundation Board Chair. “Introducing various healthcare fields to students at a younger age will ultimately help to increase the number of trained healthcare professionals in NEPA.”