THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY ROEBUCK, ADOLPH, ARGALL, BARRAR, BEYER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BOYD, BRENNAN, BURNS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DeLUCA, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, M. KELLER, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, MARSICO, McCALL, MELIO, MENSCH, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILNE, MOUL, MUNDY, MURT, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, ROCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, SWANGER, J. TAYLOR, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, WATSON, WHEATLEY, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD AND YUDICHAK, MARCH 23, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 23, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of April 2009 as "Pennsylvania Community

College Month."

WHEREAS, More than 415,000 students are currently enrolled in

credit and noncredit programs at this Commonwealth's 14

community colleges; and

WHEREAS, More than 68,900 students are currently enrolled in

over 2,450 distance learning courses and programs offered by the

community colleges, allowing students to build their academic

credentials and certifications while maintaining their work

schedules and family responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, Community colleges offer and support dual enrollment

of more than 9,100 high school students, representing half of

this Commonwealth's school districts; and

WHEREAS, Community colleges facilitate high-technology career

pathways with seamless curricula by collaborating in 2+2+2

project grants; and

WHEREAS, Community colleges have developed more than 1,000

articulation agreements to ensure that students seamlessly

transition from the community college to a four-year degree; 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 are responding to the current

economic downturn by implementing tuition waiver programs to aid

unemployed workers in obtaining crucial skills and knowledge for

reentry into the work force; and

WHEREAS, Employers throughout this Commonwealth have

contracted with community colleges to provide training for more

than 37,400 employees; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That, in special recognition of community colleges

and their exemplary role in meeting the educational and training

needs of so many residents of this Commonwealth, the House of

Representatives designate the month of April 2009 as

"Pennsylvania Community College Month" and encourage all

citizens to recognize, appreciate and support the contributions

these institutions make to their communities and to this

Commonwealth.