A00115
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
64
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, MAKO, BURGOS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, CERRATO,
CIRESI, CONKLIN, CURRY, DALEY, T. DAVIS, DELOZIER, DONAHUE,
FREEMAN, GIRAL, GREEN, HADDOCK, HARKINS, HILL-EVANS,
HOHENSTEIN, KENYATTA, KHAN, M. MACKENZIE, MALAGARI, MARCELL,
MAYES, MENTZER, MERSKI, NEILSON, O'MARA, PARKER, PASHINSKI,
RABB, SAMUELSON, SANCHEZ, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHWEYER, SHUSTERMAN,
VENKAT, VITALI, WARREN, D. WILLIAMS AND ZIMMERMAN,
FEBRUARY 10, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 10, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of April 2025 as "Community College Month"
in Pennsylvania in recognition of the important role that
community colleges play in the education system and economy
of this Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania ranks 48th in the nation for the
affordability of higher education; and
WHEREAS, Community colleges play a critical role in providing
Pennsylvanians with an affordable and quality higher education;
and
WHEREAS, Community colleges are the largest provider of
higher education in this Commonwealth, serving more than 245,000
nearly 240,000 students; and
WHEREAS, Many of the students attending community colleges
are from low-income families; and
WHEREAS, Forty-two Forty-six percent of community college
students are from underrepresented or minority groups; and
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WHEREAS, Community colleges educate the largest percentage of
first-generation or nontraditional students in higher education;
and
WHEREAS, Community colleges can save students tens of
thousands of dollars on the completion of a four-year degree;
and
WHEREAS, The affordability of community college provides
students with access to higher education and enhanced economic
opportunities; and
WHEREAS, These economic opportunities, for some students,
come through the many career-focused degrees and programs
offered by community colleges; and
WHEREAS, Community colleges serve as the largest
postsecondary trainer in this Commonwealth providing work force
development programs and degrees; and
WHEREAS, Community colleges partner with 2,170 more than
2,000 employers to provide more than $9 $14 million in
contracted workforce training to 87,000 89,000 individuals
located throughout this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, These partnerships and programs provide employers
with highly qualified workers for high-demand occupations that
meet State and regional economic needs in this Commonwealth;
and
WHEREAS, Seventy-five percent of community college programs
are aligned with high-priority occupations as defined by the
Department of Labor and Industry, which includes nursing,
computer technicians and early childhood workers; and
WHEREAS, Community colleges through their noncredit programs
educate and train this Commonwealth's first responders,
including law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency
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medical service personnel; and
WHEREAS, Community colleges provide skill training for high-
demand occupations, including truck driving, nursing assistants,
machinists and mechanics; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of April 2025 as "Community College Month" in Pennsylvania
in recognition of the important role that community colleges
play in the education system and economy of this Commonwealth.
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