While we are working towards many offerings in our service area, we have to be sure that we are providing the right programs. The training and education provided through the ECUA must lead to jobs for our residents. Although we have started with liberal arts and business management, we hope to add more technology, welding, nursing and natural gas training. We are aware that these are areas that a trained workforce is needed, but need your help in understanding what type of education you are looking for either as a student or employer. We are hosting a survey to help us better understand which is located at www.ECUAPA.org/survey. The survey takes a short amount of time and will ensure that we are on the right track with course offerings you want to take and degree programs that will lead to jobs. Dr. Richard McDowell discusses the importance of the survey below:

Update (10/27): We would like to thank Anne Holliday at WESB and Ron Orris at the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce for posting Dr. McDowell's video!

The Education Consortium of the Upper Allegheny (ECUA) was created to help residents of rural Pennsylvania keep up with the times. Currently outside of Erie there are no community colleges north of Interstate 80. Community colleges provide education and training at a more affordable rate than that of 4 year Universities, even state schools. On average PA state schools fall around $271 per credit and PA state supported schools fall around $397 per credit. A student attending community college courses through the ECUA will only pay around $203 per credit.

Because of the lack of community colleges, residents of the 11 county region must attend community colleges elsewhere. The ECUA will provide these residents with community colleges courses through both distance learning and existing organizations such as the local community education councils. We are not a degree granting organization, instead a student attending courses through the ECUA will earn their degree from the actual education provider. For example, a student attending business management courses through Butler Community College at Upper Allegheny will earn an associate degree from Butler Community College. 2 year degrees from community colleges are transferable to nearly all 4 year degree granting programs.

The ECUA is currently serving an 11 county area in Pennsylvania including Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Venango and Warren counties. Being in a rural area, it is vital that we keep up with technology and other focus areas of community college programs. This is also a region of displaced workers that are looking for other opportunities. We strive to provide education that will lead to jobs for these residents. We have started are program offerings with business management and liberal arts, but plan on expanding that in the future based on the needs of this area.