Affordability. Accessibility. Flexibility. We have the ability to change our community’s future. Erie County Community College A Proposal for the Establishment of a Public Community College in Erie County, Pennsylvania Submitted to: The State Board of Education 333 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 Submitted by: The County of Erie 140 West Sixth Street, Room 116 Erie, PA 16501-1081 June 2017 Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... Page 4 Historical Project Evolution .................................................................................................................................... 4 An Application and Call to Action ......................................................................................................................... 4 Target Programming ................................................................................................................................................ 5 A Better Future for Erie County .............................................................................................................................. 5 Chapter 1: Background .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Purpose and Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Process ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Local Sponsor ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 Guidance Documents ............................................................................................................................................... 7 Report Organization ................................................................................................................................................ 7 Chapter 2: Study Service Area ...................................................................................................................................... 8 The Region ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Transportation .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Land Use ................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Sector Strengths ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Study Area Defined .................................................................................................................................................10 Geographical Characteristics .................................................................................................................................10 Population ...............................................................................................................................................................10 General Population Demographics ........................................................................................................................11 General Population Distribution ...........................................................................................................................11 Population Trends ...................................................................................................................................................12 Population Forecast ................................................................................................................................................12 Effect of Population Increase/Decrease on Need for Proposed Community College .......................................14 Transportation Infrastructure .................................................................................................................................14 Roadway System .....................................................................................................................................................15 Public Transit ...........................................................................................................................................................16 Aviation ...................................................................................................................................................................17 Port of Erie ...............................................................................................................................................................18 Railroads ..................................................................................................................................................................18 Traditional Utility Services .....................................................................................................................................18 Broadband Service ..................................................................................................................................................18 Area Media and Communications .........................................................................................................................19 Population — Demographic and Educational Trends ..........................................................................................20 Education .................................................................................................................................................................20 Employment ............................................................................................................................................................21 Human Resources ...................................................................................................................................................22 Community College Enrollment Projections .........................................................................................................22 Chapter 3: Results of Survey Research .......................................................................................................................23 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................23 Headlines .................................................................................................................................................................23 What did the research show? .................................................................................................................................24 Proposed Community College Analysis ................................................................................................................26 2 Chapter 4: Philosophy, Objectives and Organization of the College .....................................................................30 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................30 Mission .....................................................................................................................................................................30 Governance ..............................................................................................................................................................31 Sponsorship of the College .....................................................................................................................................31 Board of Trustees .....................................................................................................................................................32 Organization of College Administration ...............................................................................................................32 Draft Policies ...........................................................................................................................................................33 Administration Policies of the College .............................................................................................................33 Academic Policies ..............................................................................................................................................34 Student Related Policies ....................................................................................................................................35 Tuition and Fees Policies ...................................................................................................................................35 Financial Aid Policies ........................................................................................................................................35