Reading, PA – Fifteen staff and faculty members of Reading Area Community College are being honored for creating and implementing innovative programs, practices, partnerships, policies, and activities that improve the institution’s ability to serve students and their communities.

“I could not be more proud of the RACC staff and faculty members who have worked so hard to achieve this award. Their dedication to student success and their abilities to motivate and support students in the development of valuable learning experiences continues to inspire me every day,” says RACC President Dr. Susan D. Looney.

Faculty and staff members receiving the award are: Pamela Blakely, Professor, Social Sciences/Human Services; Danelle Bower, Associate Professor, Social Sciences/Human Services; Jodi Corbett, Director of Academic Partnerships and Special Assistant to the President; Robin Eckert, Associate Dean, Social Sciences/Human Services and Foundational Studies; Teri Floyd-Brumm, Associate Professor, Foundational Studies; Michael Gregory, Director of Teaching and Learning; Mary Ellen Heckman, Associate Dean, Library; David Hessen, Director of Marketing and Communications; Nancy Jackson, Associate Professor, Social Sciences/Human Services; Alexis Jardine, Professor, Foundational Studies; Kay Litman, Vice President of Enrollment Management; Maria Mitchell, Dean of Student Affairs; Dolores Peterson, Associate Vice President for  Finance and Administrative Services/Controller; Benjamin Rosenberger, Director of Financial Aid/Registrar and Bonnie Spayd, Executive Director of Workforce and Economic Development.
 
The winning members will be honored at the League for Innovation Conference in March 2020, in Seattle, Washington.

The League’s Innovation of the Year Award was devised as a way to nationally recognize significant innovations at community colleges. These innovations reflect capstone achievements and the continuing renewal of the spirit of innovation and experimentation upon which the League was founded. The award honors faculty, staff, and administrators at member colleges who have created and implemented innovative programs, practices, partnerships, policies, and activities that improve the institution’s ability to serve students and the community.

To learn more about the instructional innovation and student success models at RACC, call 610.607.6224.

Reading, PA – Seventeen local mental health agencies attended the 4th Annual Mental Health Fair held in the Zogas Student Union Building on Wednesday, October 16.  The purpose of the event was to reduce the stigma of mental health issues, raise awareness of mental health treatment, and to inform the RACC community of the many local resources available.
 
Approximately 25 representatives from the agencies brought literature and talked with students, staff, and faculty from 10:00 until 2:00.  Students attending were given “passports” to “travel” among the agencies to learn of the services offered.  The passports earned door prize tickets for those attending. 
 
Phi Theta Kappa is the Honor Society for two-year colleges.  The Mental Health Fair originated with Kristy Whitekettle, RACC alum who previously served as President of Phi Theta Kappa’s local chapter.  She also served as an officer in Psi Beta, the Psychology Honor Society, and engaged Psi Beta and RACC’s Student Affairs Department to co-sponsor the event.  Although Whitekettle graduated, she is committed to continuing to hold the Mental Health Fair and returns to organize the annual event.  A post-fair survey revealed that the agencies attending were positively impressed with the diversity of agencies present and the wealth of knowledge those agency representatives shared with the RACC community. 
 
For more information about Phi Theta Kappa or the Mental Health Fair, contact Chapter President Leann Woolf or Advisors Dr. Danelle Bower and Dr. Donna Singleton.

Reading, PA – On July 24, Drexel University President John Fry toured the Schmidt Training and Technology Center’s state-of-the-art STEM labs with Reading Area Community College President Dr. Susan Looney and RACC Board Chair, Guido Pichini. While touring the labs, Dr. Looney and Mr. Fry discussed expanding RACC’s academic partnership with Drexel, which is one of RACC’s top fifteen transfer schools.

RACC graduates can attend Drexel’s campus programs as well as complete their bachelor’s degrees through Drexel’s Online Professional Studies programs. Students considering where to continue their education after RACC may find the decision to be stressful — with so many details, deadlines, and decisions. To help them navigate the process, transfer specialists at RACC and Drexel work closely with students to guide them through the process.

“Transferring to a four-year college or university is a major goal of many RACC students. With RACC’s STEM transfer majors in Science, Engineering, and Health Sciences, students look to Drexel University for completing their bachelor’s degree. The most important advice for students wishing to transfer is to start planning early and to talk to their faculty advisors about their goals,” says Dr. Looney.

To learn more about RACC transfer services to top regional colleges visit racc.edu/services/transfer-services.

Reading, PA – Reading Area Community College was recently recognized as one of only 16 colleges, out of 1,200 community colleges nationwide, to be published in the 2019 edition of Civic Scholar. The Civic Scholar is the Phi Theta Kappa Journal of Undergraduate Research, and the nation’s only journal recognizing and celebrating the undergraduate research and community engagement of community college students.

“This publication helps us demonstrate to others what we have always known-that an investment in community colleges is s a wise one. It celebrates students who are digging the deepest into their community college experience by engaging more deeply with students, instructors, and the institution in meaningful ways,” says Phi Theta Kappa President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner.

The overarching objective of RACC’s submission, “The Powers of Connection: Creating a College Website to Promote Inclusivity” was to evaluate the effectiveness of the connections formed through various types of communication, with the intention of improving communication within the RACC campus.

"Overall the impact of our project is significant in that it has initiated a dialogue among faculty, staff, students and community members.  I am very proud of the thorough academic research and writing that the students completed. In their journal submission, the chapter members skillfully connected their research findings to the major actions of their project, "says RACC PTK advisor and faculty member Dr. Danelle Bower.

The Civic Scholar serves as a national platform to celebrate the hard work and talent of the PTK students.

For more information about Phi Theta Kappa at Reading Area Community College, please call 610.372.4721.

READING, PA — Reading Area Community College (RACC) student Valerie Mackey has been selected as a 2019 GEICO Pathway to Completion Bachelor’s Degree Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

Only two students received this scholarship, which is designed to provide Phi Theta Kappa members with financial resources to help defray educational expenses while pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college.

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Valerie has been living in Wyomissing for twelve years. In three years, she has earned an AAS in web development, and an AA in computer information systems, both summa cum laude, and both with honors. She will be completing an additional associate’s degree in business administration before transferring to Bloomsburg University to complete a bachelor's degree in technical leadership.

“We are very proud of Valerie’s outstanding academic achievements and leadership potential which has earned her this prestigious award. She is an extremely hard worker, and her determination is an inspiration to everyone in PTK and at Reading Area Community College," says RACC PTK advisor, and RACC faculty member Dr. Danelle Bower.

The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recognizes academic achievement of community college students and provides opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders. For more information about Phi Theta Kappa at Reading Area Community College, please call 610.372.4721.