College Benefits From Engineering Grant, Corporate Donations

Donations from six companies have allowed Pennsylvania College of Technology to purchase engineering-related instructional equipment through a grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The Engineering School Equipment Grant Program requires a 2-to-1 match from private sources, with funds distributed based on enrollments in ABET- (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredited bachelor-degree and associate-degree majors.

Penn College has five ABET-accredited majors: plastics and polymer engineering technology (bachelor's), plastics and polymer technology (associate), civil engineering technology (bachelor's and associate), and surveying technology (associate).

The college used this year's ESE Grant funding to purchase an analytical balance to teach students in the college's plastics technology majors on equipment that meets industry standards for measuring test material, compound formulations and finished parts.

The funding was also used to purchase additional data collectors that students in the civil engineering technology and surveying technology majors will use with RTK- (Real-Time Kinematic) capable Global Positioning System equipment. The collectors will allow more efficient data collection and smaller lab-group sizes, giving the students a more personalized learning experience and allowing more efficient instruction.

Debra M. Miller, Penn College's director of corporate relations, said six companies provided support for Penn College's 2008 ESE Grant request: PPL Corp.; New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co. Inc.; G.A. & F.C. Wagman Inc., York; Penn Terra Engineering Inc., State College; Borton-Lawson Engineering, Wilkes-Barre; and LSC Design Inc., York.

"This initiative provides an excellent opportunity for Penn College to receive grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to purchase instructional equipment for our students," Miller said. "We appreciate the support we receive from our partner companies to ensure that we meet the match requirement necessary to receive this funding."

Penn College is a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University, committed to applied technology education. With more than 6,500 students enrolled in bachelor-degree, associate-degree, and certificate majors, Penn College has the second-highest enrollment in the Penn State system.

For more information about the college, visit online, e-mail or call toll-free (800) 367-9222.

For more information about making a donation, establishing a scholarship fund, or other ways to support Penn College and its students, visit on the Web, e-mail or call the Institutional Advancement Office toll-free at (866) GIVE 2 PC.

For more information about grant-funding opportunities, faculty and staff may contact the Grants and Contracts Office at ext. 7562 or through its Web portal.