For 45 years, the Community College of Allegheny County has provided affordable access to quality education. With a focus on meeting the needs of our students and the region, CCAC offers relevant and innovative programs to assist learners who choose CCAC to begin their educational career or to prepare for the workforce of today and tomorrow.

For nearly three-quarters of CCAC students, we are their college of first choice. What makes CCAC increasingly rise to the top is our focus on results. For those seeking an affordable, high-quality education, CCAC is a wise choice. Our learners can save $19,000 over public colleges and universities and $51,000 over private institutions over two years. They find small classes taught by committed faculty and rigorous coursework. This gives them an edge over their peers not only financially but often also academically when they transfer to other colleges and universities.

At CCAC, we recognize that many of those who come to us need assistance to perform at a college level. Here they will find comprehensive student support services and programs that are continually tuned to effectively promote student success. In fact, CCAC is one of 40 pilot colleges nationwide for the Voluntary Framework of Accountability, which will establish meaningful standards to measure student success at community colleges.

New initiatives this year seek to help students clear the common academic hurdle of mathematics. Other programs are working to increase the number of students who continue to graduation and find jobs in a changing workforce. CCAC has joined the Call to Action of the American Association of Community Colleges, which commits CCAC to the national goal of reclaiming the top college graduation rate in the world by 2020.

Ensuring that CCAC’s programs align with the changes in the workforce is one of the college’s top priorities. We have commissioned independent studies to identify growing fields in the region. The college maintains close interaction with employers, labor and government agencies to ensure that our educational programs match the skills needed for today’s careers. Many of our programs provide short-term training options, which prepare individuals for new careers in two years or less—sometimes as little as 24 days. Support services go beyond reviewing resumes to help graduates find jobs in a challenging economy.

To emphasize these important roles CCAC and other community colleges play across Pennsylvania, CCAC has joined Advance PA: Community Colleges Lead the Way, an advocacy campaign to remind everyone interested in recovery that Pennsylvania needs its community colleges to educate and prepare students with skills for today’s jobs and a better state economy.

As CCAC leads the way in affordable quality education for the workforce, it is only due to a committed team of faculty, staff and administrators who serve our students with dedication and excellence. With their continued support, I am confident that CCAC will continue to grow as the first choice for faster results.

Sincerely,

Alex Johnson
President
Community College of Allegheny County

Source:

73% of CCAC students selected CCAC as their college of first choice, ACT survey, April 2009 

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