Penn College Board OKs property sale, engagement of audit services

The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board of Directors on Thursday approved the sale of property at 3341 Wahoo Drive, Williamsport, and the appointment of Baker Tilly to perform audit services for the college.

Automotive coursework delivered at the Wahoo Drive location – which is situated on a 2-acre parcel purchased in 1997 – can be taught on main campus, and the college is no longer in need of the facility, which can be put to better use, said Patrick Marty, chief government and international relations officer.

In other business, Baker Tilly will perform auditing services for the fiscal year ending June 30, said Suzanne T. Stopper, senior vice president for finance/CFO.

There were no other action items on Thursday’s agenda. In the information portion of the meeting, Nesli Alp, vice president for academic affairs/provost, spoke to the board about new and retired academic majors, as well as promotions and sabbatical leave granted to faculty.

The 2022-23 new majors/certificates/competency credentials/minors are:

New Post Master’s Certificate

• nursing education (Summer 2024, pending approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Curriculum Committee)

New Master’s Degree

• physician assistant studies (Fall 2023)

New Bachelor’s Degree

• biomedical sciences (Fall 2023)

New Minors

• graphic design (Fall 2023)
• robotics (Fall 2023)

The following academic majors are being modified and transitioned to Workforce Development at Penn College:

• paramedic practice, certificate (Fall 2023 will be last semester that students are accepted; the last cohort will graduate in August 2025.)
• paramedic science, Associate of Applied Science (Fall 2023 will be last semester that students are accepted; the last cohort will graduate in August 2025.)
• practical nursing, Associate of Applied Science (No new students accepted; the last cohort will graduate in August 2023.)

Promotions
Fifteen full-time Penn College faculty have been granted promotion in rank, effective at the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year:

• Adam C. Barilla, plastics technology (School of Engineering Technologies) from instructor to assistant professor.
• Andrea M. Campbell, English composition & technical communication (School of Business, Arts & Sciences) from instructor to assistant professor.
• Naim N. Jabbour, architecture (School of Engineering Technologies) from assistant professor to associate professor.
• Craig A. Miller, history/political science (School of Business, Arts & Sciences) from associate professor to professor.
• Tammy A. Miller, biology (general biology and microbiology) (School of Business, Arts & Sciences) from instructor to assistant professor.
• Wendy A. Miller, assistant dean of health sciences (School of Nursing & Health Sciences) from assistant professor to associate professor.
• Sarah S. Moore, human services (School of Business, Arts & Sciences) from instructor to assistant professor.
• Bridget E. Motel, dental hygiene I (School of Nursing & Health Sciences) from instructor to assistant professor.
• Dawn E. Murafka, nursing programs (School of Nursing & Health Sciences) from instructor to assistant professor.
• Robert M. Nolan, business administration/accounting & finance (School of Business, Arts & Sciences) from instructor to assistant professor.
• Scott A. Seroskie, electrical technologies (School of Engineering Technologies) from instructor to assistant professor.
• Robert K. Vlacich, automotive services (School of Engineering Technologies) from assistant professor to associate professor.
• Nicole S. Warner, librarian, archives and special collections (The Madigan Library) from instructor to assistant professor.
• Elizabeth E. Winder, human services (School of Business, Arts & Sciences) from assistant professor to associate professor.
• Craig Zimmerman, building automation technologies/HVAC electrical (School of Engineering Technologies) from assistant professor to associate professor.

Sabbaticals
Four sabbatical requests were approved for faculty:

• John F. Chappo, assistant professor, history/history of technology, School of Business, Arts & Sciences, for the 2023-24 academic year, via a modified teaching agreement. Chappo will use a full academic year sabbatical to research, develop and collaborate to improve the operational system for Global Experiences while teaching the equivalent of a half academic year. He will develop a full operations/manual for Global Experiences and work with multiple departments across campus to improve existing policies and procedures.
• Tina Marie Kline, associate professor, Nursing Division, School of Nursing & Health Sciences, for the 2023-24 academic year while continuing to teach part time. Kline will use the sabbatical to complete the dissertation portion of her doctor of philosophy – nursing education/administration program requirements. She will maintain teaching the equivalent of a half academic year and continue her Quality Through Assessment co-chair role part time during her sabbatical.
• Allen Heimbach, assistant professor, computer information technology, School of Engineering Technologies, for the Spring 2024 semester. Heimbach will use the sabbatical to complete the dissertation and research needed to complete his Ed.D. in education technology. This sabbatical will allow Heimbach to research, collaborate and present his dissertation.
• Jeffrey L. Rankinen, associate professor, electronics, School of Engineering Technologies, for the Spring 2024 semester. Rankinen will use the sabbatical to complete professional development, curriculum development, and design and implement a pilot program to allow students to complete the robotics & automation degree while working. He will serve on an advisory committee, participate in a Digital Transformation Maturity Assessment, create new lab projects involving recently donated software and develop an Intelligent Learning Management System to track student learning in real time.

In his comments to the board, President Michael J. Reed noted that Fall 2023 applications are up 11%. He also recapped the inaugural Rotorfest on campus, calling it "a really exciting, dynamic event.”

Reed said the recent visit to campus by 10 students and two chaperones from North West Regional College in Northern Ireland was a great learning experience, both for them and the Penn College community. He also informed the board about the 23 students who will work as interns, staffing the kitchens and premium dining facilities of Churchill Downs, at the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby during the first week of May.

In his comments to the board, state Sen. Gene Yaw, board chair, said budget hearings have concluded in Harrisburg for the proposed 2023-24 state budget, and he is hopeful that Penn College will be appropriately recognized for its academic programs and for what it accomplishes within higher education in Pennsylvania.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Penn College Board of Directors is Thursday, June 8.