LCCC Board OKs new health program spurred by pandemic

Mark Guydish, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
·2 min read

Apr. 25—NANTICOKE — The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to reverberate at Luzerne County Community College, at least in programs being offered. At the regular meeting Tuesday the Board of Trustees approved a new Public Health program to give students skills for entry level jobs, or credits that will transfer to four-year institutions, helping meet growing demand for such employees post pandemic.

The program at LCCC will integrate "fundamental concepts and principles of public health with the natural sciences, social sciences and technology to develop a public health world view. Students will acquire knowledge and skills necessary to protect and promote the health of individuals, families and communities through education and research," according to information included in the agenda packet for Tuesday's meeting.

The Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information & Analysis projects a 16.3% increase in demand for such employees from 2020 to 2030. Average annual salary for related occupations is $44,000. Bachelor degree programs are being offered at four-year institutions that should be amenable to transfer credits from the new LCCC program. The program will also increase options for those in other healthcare programs and for some in business programs.

The board also gave out more than 30 academic and leadership awards a student recognition ceremony, timed as part of April being Community College Month. After the meeting, the college held a reception in the dining room for the students.

The Board also:

—Approved the nomination committee, which annually nominates members of the board of trustees to fill expiring terms. The committee will be Joseph Lettiere as Chair and Holly Evanoski, Joseph Long, Catherine O'Donnell and Susan Unvarsky.

—Extended the auditing service contract with MaherDuessal to perform the year-end audit and review financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30 this year, at a cost of $63,000.

—Approved Dr. David J. Schoenwetter for Medical Director of Emergency Medical Services Programs to Geisinger Health System at $5,000 per year for five years.

—Approved the proposals of three companies to provide collection agency services to the college for each fiscal year through June 2028: General Revenue, Key2Recovery and Eastern Revenue.

—Promoted Mini Balachandran to professor, Lori Czajkowski to assistant professor, and Russ Bigus, Nicole Esposito, Doug Martin and Ivanna Prodanets to associate professors.

Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish