HR 64 — 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.

PRINTER'S NO.   542

                     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
 1   Designating the month of April 2025 as "Community College Month"
 2      in Pennsylvania in recognition of the important role that
 3      community colleges play in the education system and economy
 4      of this Commonwealth.
 5         WHEREAS, Pennsylvania ranks 48th in the nation for the
 6   affordability of higher education; and
 7         WHEREAS, Community colleges play a critical role in providing
 8   Pennsylvanians with an affordable and quality higher education;
 9   and
10         WHEREAS, Community colleges are the largest provider of
11   higher education in this Commonwealth, serving more than 245,000
12   students; and
13         WHEREAS, Many of the students attending community colleges
14   are from low-income families; and
15         WHEREAS, Forty-two percent of community college students are
16   from underrepresented or minority groups; and
 1         WHEREAS, Community colleges educate the largest percentage of
 2   first-generation or nontraditional students in higher education;
 3   and
 4         WHEREAS, Community colleges can save students tens of
 5   thousands of dollars on the completion of a four-year degree;
 6   and
 7         WHEREAS, The affordability of community college provides
 8   students with access to higher education and enhanced economic
 9   opportunities; and
10         WHEREAS, These economic opportunities, for some students,
11   come through the many career-focused degrees and programs
12   offered by community colleges; and
13         WHEREAS, Community colleges serve as the largest
14   postsecondary trainer in this Commonwealth providing work force
15   development programs and degrees; and
16         WHEREAS, Community colleges partner with 2,170 employers to
17   provide more than $9 million in contracted workforce training to
18   87,000 individuals located throughout this Commonwealth; and
19         WHEREAS, These partnerships and programs provide employers
20   with highly qualified workers for high-demand occupations that
21   meet State and regional economic needs in this Commonwealth;
22   and
23         WHEREAS, Seventy-five percent of community college programs
24   are aligned with high-priority occupations as defined by the
25   Department of Labor and Industry, which includes nursing,
26   computer technicians and early childhood workers; and
27         WHEREAS, Community colleges through their noncredit programs
28   educate and train this Commonwealth's first responders,
29   including law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency
30   medical service personnel; and

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1      WHEREAS, Community colleges provide skill training for high-
2   demand occupations, including truck driving, nursing assistants,
3   machinists and mechanics; therefore be it
4      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
5   month of April 2025 as "Community College Month" in Pennsylvania
6   in recognition of the important role that community colleges
7   play in the education system and economy of this Commonwealth.




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