NCC Awarded Dual Enrollment Grant

Northampton Community College (NCC) has been awarded $860,161 in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) as part of the Shapiro Administration's $14 million investment in dual credit programs across the Commonwealth. This significant funding will enable NCC to launch innovative dual enrollment pathways specifically designed for high school students in the high-demand fields of allied health, education, and skilled trades. 

The grant is part of a statewide initiative announced by the PDE to increase access to dual credit opportunities for high school students, allowing them to earn college credit and gain a head start on their postsecondary education and career preparation. Fifteen public institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania received funding through this program. 

NCC's new initiative will create clear, supported pathways aimed at students who may face educational instability, including historically underserved, rural, low-income, first-generation college students, and those with limited access to traditional career and technical education. The program moves beyond a general studies approach to focus on structured pathways leading directly to viable careers offering family-sustaining wages within their communities. NCC will partner on this project with Northampton Area School District and Saucon Valley School District in Northampton County and East Stroudsburg High School and Pleasant Valley High School in Monroe County. Following a successful pilot, the College hopes to expand the program to other school districts within its service area. 

NCC will provide dedicated support systems and engaging activities within these pathways to foster a strong sense of belonging and purpose among participating students. This comprehensive approach aims to empower students to see these careers as attainable and take concrete steps toward a successful future. 

The focus on allied health, education, and skilled trades directly addresses critical workforce shortages identified as high-priority occupations in the region. These fields are facing challenges due to an aging workforce, underrepresentation of diverse populations, and limited opportunities for high school students to explore and prepare for these career paths. 

This grant funding will significantly enhance NCC's capacity to serve high school students, providing them with invaluable opportunities to earn college credit, explore promising career paths, and ultimately contribute to the economic vitality of the Commonwealth.