Penn State Hazleton Roundtable Calls for Expanded Community Outreach, New Programs

HAZLETON - More dual enrollment classes for high school students, additional course offerings, and partnerships with local employers were all promoted at a legislative roundtable on the future of Penn State Hazleton today.

Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27), Rep. Dane Watro (R-116), and Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-117) organized the discussion to focus on the growth of the local campus after it was saved from closure earlier this year.

"Just a few months ago, the Hazleton community united to save this campus," said Argall. "But our work is not done - far from it. Today's discussion helped build a roadmap for how Penn State Hazleton can thrive and benefit students and employers for decades to come."

"Penn State Hazleton is an important part of this community's future," said Culver. "Our focus now is making sure the campus remains strong by preparing students for the workforce and meeting the needs of local employers. With continued collaboration and support, we can help ensure this campus remains a place of opportunity for both students and the region it serves."

"Penn State Hazleton has been at the heart of ensuring quality, affordable higher education is accessible to anyone seeking it in our region for years," said Watro. "This meeting was the beginning of what will be an ongoing conversation about finding ways to help this great institution continue to serve and enhance our communities, such as offering more educational options in high-demand fields, creating more opportunities for high school students to take college courses or facilitating relationships between employers and the university to address future regional employee needs."

"Today's meeting was highly productive," said Walsh. "There were a lot of great ideas shared about how we can improve the educational opportunities at the campus and keep Penn State Hazelton relevant for both students and employers. I appreciate everyone's participation in the meeting and encouraged continued dialogue and follow through on these ideas."

Alex Neyhart, a student at Penn State Hazleton, discussed that expanding degrees in high-demand fields would encourage more students to attend the campus. He cited the serious need for more teachers, nurses, and tradesmen. He also shared how the student body has reacted to the upheaval, stating that many breathed a "sigh of relief" when the campus was saved, and welcomed new students from Penn State Wilkes Barre to the Hazleton community.

Dr. Brian Uplinger, the superintendent of schools for Hazleton Area School District, discussed how the district is one of the fastest growing in the state. He called for the creation of an early college academy, a dual enrollment program that would allow students to graduate with 30 college credits. He also shared the need for creating pathways to guide students towards degrees in teaching, cybersecurity, health sciences, engineering, and business.

Dr. Anthony Conston, the principal of Hazleton Area High School, emphasized the importance of community outreach to share details of scholarships and other financial aid options for families considering higher education.

Mary Malone, the president of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, pointed to the need for Penn State Hazleton faculty and staff to engage in a deeper way with the wider community. She noted that 15,000 people come to work in the Hazleton area and that employers are always looking for future employees, creating opportunities for internships and other collaborations.

Bob Curry, the founding president of the Hazleton Integration Project, discussed a plan to develop nursing degrees at Penn State Hazleton to address the healthcare shortages affecting communities across the region.

A recording of the full roundtable is available on Argall's website.

CONTACT: Jim Brugger (Argall)
Sam Clepper (Culver)
Chris Comisac (Watro)
Tricia Lehman (Walsh)