businessSPOTLIGHT: Central Penn College
What services or products does your business offer?
Central Penn College provides student-focused, career-relevant education, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and certificate programs. We also offer targeted Workforce Excellence programs with business partners in the area, including The GIANT Company, Verber Dental, and Messiah Lifeways. Our athletic offerings have also grown significantly, including basketball, cheer, esports, soccer, softball, volleyball, and baseball, with track and cross country expected to debut later this year. We have adapted to the evolving demands of the labor market and the needs of our students for more than 141 years.
How does your business separate itself from your competition?
We have been forward-thinking in reflecting the rapidly changing marketplace and have survived and thrived for more than 141 years. We offer accelerated terms so students can often finish and enter the workforce in as little as a year. Our students are a dynamic blend of both traditional and non-traditional students, and 49 percent identify as persons of color, which adds to the diversity and vibrancy of our campus experience. We were also an early adopter of online education, and offer a one-of-its-kind free housing scholarship for students in good standing, with the potential to save them close to $24,000 over the course of their studies at a time when affordability concerns are paramount.
How do you see your business growing in the future?
With so many educational options available online now, we have been growing our corporate partnerships and are planning to expand self-paced learning modules in an innovative new program. High-quality digital learning is a valuable investment we’ve been providing for more than 20 years, even in pre-pandemic times, so we were ahead of the curve and are seeing sustained growth. Our business and healthcare offerings are also extremely popular, and thanks to partners such as UPMC, students in certain high-demand fields can have their tuition reimbursed after two years of successful employment. We have also developed new programs, including sports management and dental assistant programs, to address market shortages and give students the tools and the opportunity to secure stable, rewarding, high-paying jobs.
How does your business get involved in the community?
Our President, Dr. Linda Fedrizzi-Williams and leadership team, faculty and staff are very involved community leaders. Just a small sampling of our involvement: students and staff take part in the Harrisburg Holiday Parade; and every year, we do a CPC Gives Back project, adopting a campus-wide community service project to help alleviate pressing issues such as hunger and animal welfare. We not only collect items and monetary donations but perform service hours. We sponsor and host major community events and invite the public in to join us, for free movies, the Grinch-mas celebration, Fall Harvest, concerts and more.
How long has your business been a member of the Chamber?
Over 25 years
How has Chamber membership been beneficial to your business?
We are so grateful that Chamber publications share our events, achievements and new course offerings. Through our relationship with the Chamber, you have helped to spark interest and enrollment, and we welcome your networking opportunities. As a mirror of our marketplace, it is vital for us to stay abreast of employer needs, and the relationships we have built through the Chamber are golden opportunities for us.
Central Penn College empowers students to turn potential into professional success. Since 1881, the college has been a leading source of career-focused education to students in Pennsylvania and beyond. Strategically located in Summerdale, near the seat of state government and major public and private employers, Central Penn College offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees and certificate programs in a variety of professional fields. For more information, visit www.centralpenn.edu or (717) 732-0702 or (800) 759-2727.