courses and programs, allowing students to build their academic
credentials and certifications while maintaining their work
schedules and family responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, Community colleges offer the most affordable pathway
to the baccalaureate through more than 2,700 transfer and
articulation agreements to ensure students seamlessly transition
from the community college to a four-year degree, with more than
32,800 students transferring each year; and
WHEREAS, Ninety-one percent of community college graduates
stay in Pennsylvania to live and work; and
WHEREAS, Community colleges continue to graduate students in
many of the high-demand and high-growth industries vital to the
State's economy, particularly in health care, public safety,
manufacturing and energy; and
WHEREAS, Sixty-one percent of those credit programs are in
the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields; and
WHEREAS, Community colleges offer individualized credit and
noncredit courses and programs that enhance the work force
pipeline and stimulate this Commonwealth's economy; and
WHEREAS, Community colleges have developed 74 new or
redesigned programs in response to regional needs of employers
and work force trends; and
WHEREAS, More than 1,100 employers throughout this
Commonwealth have contracted with community colleges to provide
training for more employees, and 30,200 employees have been
trained by community colleges throughout Pennsylvania; therefore
be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of April 2015
as "Pennsylvania Community College Month" in Pennsylvania and
encourage all residents to recognize, appreciate and support the
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