PRINTER'S NO. 1245
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
218
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY MENSCH, GREENLEAF, MARTIN, SCAVELLO, DINNIMAN,
FARNESE, FONTANA, BARTOLOTTA, SABATINA, LANGERHOLC, BOSCOLA,
RAFFERTY, KILLION, BROWNE, ARGALL, AUMENT, RESCHENTHALER,
COSTA, YAW, BAKER, BREWSTER AND WAGNER, OCTOBER 16, 2017
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 16, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of October 16 through 20, 2017, as
"Community College Completion Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The mission of this Commonwealth's 14 community
colleges is to increase the educational attainment level and
work force readiness skills of Pennsylvanians to create a
productive work force and vibrant economy; and
WHEREAS, Community colleges offer the most affordable pathway
to bachelor's degrees through more than 2,800 transfer and
articulation agreements to ensure that students seamlessly
transition from community college to an institution offering a
four-year degree, with nearly 34,000 students transferring each
year; and
WHEREAS, More than 40% of community college students
nationwide who transfer to a senior college with an associate's
degree successfully complete a bachelor's degree; and
WHEREAS, Individuals who successfully complete an associate's
degree will earn an average of $250,000 more than individuals
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who only complete high school over the course of their careers;
and
WHEREAS, Individuals who successfully complete an associate's
degree will earn nearly $100,000 more than individuals who start
but do not complete an associate's degree over the course of
their careers; and
WHEREAS, Individuals with associate's degrees are less likely
to become unemployed than their coworkers who did not earn those
credentials; and
WHEREAS, In less than five years, 65% of all jobs in the
economy will require postsecondary education and training beyond
high school, and 30% of those jobs will require some college
education or an associate's degree; and
WHEREAS, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapters at this
Commonwealth's community colleges are encouraging students to
complete associate's degrees or certificates before leaving
community college to transfer to a four-year school or enter the
job market; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of October 16
through 20, 2017, as "Community College Completion Week" in
Pennsylvania, encourage all community college students to
complete degrees and urge community college faculty and staff to
facilitate completion of student credentials.
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