News and Events

The three institutions have collaborated to develop a 2+2 program in the field of Business and Information Technology. The goal of the program is to provide students with multiple successful entry points to employment and help them earn industry-recognized certifications.

Under the new program, students who are currently enrolled in either BCTC or RMCTC will have the opportunity to earn up to 18 RACC credits at no cost to them during their sophomore, junior and senior years. Once those courses are completed, students will be encouraged to continue on the path to their degree by completing specific courses at RACC.

Upon successful completion of the 2+2 program, students will earn either an AA or AAS degree in Computer Technology and/or Business Management. From there, students can either pursue a bachelor's degree at a four-year institution or enter the workforce.

Also, at the ceremony, a new logo for the Technical Academy was unveiled. Students from RMCTC participated in a contest to design the new logo, with junior Jose Mora's design being selected.

The Technical Academy launched last year with a 2+2 program in Engineering Technology (Mechatronics).

The contest was open to high school and college students worldwide to submit a recitation of one of eight selected poems. For her winning submission she was awarded a $100 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble and will also be acknowledged in the next edition of The Norton Anthology of African American Literature.

Jewell Brown is a 2010 graduate of Governor Mifflin Senior High and second year Liberal Arts student at RACC where she is preparing for transfer into a Music Education/Performance program. She serves as a Raven Ambassador for the College, is a member of the Reading Philharmonic Orchestra, involved in community theatre and volunteers at the PAL Center for the Arts.

RACC students also took part in training at Albright College offered by the Interfaith Youth Corp, with headquarters in Chicago. A number of RACC students participated in Albright College's program, which is part of over 400 colleges and universities working to bring together students from different faith traditions for dialog and community work. The CBS program featured Albright and interfaith work in the City of Reading. Future honors ethics students will be given the opportunity of continuing the work. You can find a link to the December CBS program here

A total of 30 students received certificates in Practical Nursing. Over the past 20 years, RACC has graduated more than 775 students through the Practical Nursing Program, which makes them eligible to sit for the PA State Board of Nursing Licensing Exam.

Awards were given to students who excelled academically and exhibited outstanding clinical performance throughout the Practical Nursing Program. The application of Theory to Practice Award was given to Judy Geisinger. The Frances Troutman Award for Nursing Excellence was given to Stephanie Sterley. The Patient Teaching Award was given to Daphne Feliciano. The Mildred Clungeon Scholarship, sponsored by her daughter, Ms. Sandi Rosencrans, was awarded to Rachel Stoudt and Jennifer Tim.

Those who practice the Day of the Dead believe that souls return to visit their families once a year. Families prepare altars with offerings of their favorite foods, photos, incense and flower petals to draw their loved ones home. The altars also include representations of the four elements of nature–– earth, air, water and fire.

Jardine displayed an altar dedicated to her mother, with samples of her favorite foods being offered. Students also made a small version to honor someone in their families and prepare the traditional bread for this occasion, pan de muerto.

The program featured comments and proclamations from the Berks County Board of Commissioners, the College's local sponsor, Senator Judy Schwank's office, Representative Thomas Caltagirone and the City of Reading on behalf of Mayor Tom McMahon. Dean Sheaffer, RACC's Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Mary Ann Chelius Smith, former chairwoman, also shared memories of the beginnings of the College and marveled at its growth and success. Dr. Gust Zogas and Dr. Richard Kratz, Presidents Emeriti, also marked the occasion with thoughts from their years of service. President Weitz concluded the program with comments on the future role of the Community's College.

RACC honored its community partners through a visual The College's mascot, the RACC Raven, was also on-hand to greet attendees and pose for photos.

RACC officially turns 40 on October 13, which is the first day classes were held in 1971.

View photos from the celebration here.

RACC Through the Years

RACC's program offerings have grown from 9 in 1971 to 53 in the 2010-2012 catalog.

Since its beginning in 1971, RACC has enrolled more than 70,000 credit students and granted more than 10,000 degrees and certificates.

RACC has also enrolled over 90,000 non-credit students in the last 13 years.

RACC faculty has grown from 39 full-time administrators, faculty, and secretarial and clerical staff in 1972 to 220 full-time administrators, faculty, and staff in 2010. Adjunct faculty has also grown from 18 to 241 during that time.

Dr. Craig, the Greenheck Chair in Engineering Design and Professor of Mechanical Engineering presented his topic Innovation is for Everyone (PDF) during the 90-minute lecture. His initial point touched on the challenges for today's companies as well as education of engineers.

"The urgent problems society faces are multidisciplinary in nature, complex, and ever changing," said Craig. "Engineers need to be able to adapt and apply technology across engineering specialties to create products and processes that are human-centered, feasible, viable, sustainable, and usable."

Craig also worked to define innovation and how mechatronics – like the program offered at RACC – can enhance innovation. Since mechatronics is a synergistic integration of multiple processes, it is the key to helping companies better compete in today's market.

Craig concluded his lecture by encouraging companies to transition to a model-based design system that includes a reward system encouraging employees to take ownership of their innovations.

The Rolf Schmidt Series on Innovative Practices, Strategies and Technologies was established with the intention of stimulating conversation and innovation among Berks County manufacturers in an effort to better support their needs through the Schmidt Training and Technology Center. The Series will be supported by an annual symposium at Reading Area Community College.

The conference encourages students to work with faculty mentors to prepare and submit papers that demonstrate scholarship and originality. Submissions are separated into 20 different subject-area categories.

Carlson, who resides in Reading, presented his academic research paper titled "The Balance of Nature and the Hunger of Children: An Ethical Exploration of Genetically Modified Organisms." It is the second straight year that Carlson has been named the top scholar in the category for which he submitted and his third time as a finalist.

Criteria for judging during the conference include originality and quality of research, written work, and the oral presentation. Carlson and his mentor, adjunct instructor Michael Feyers, each received a $100 prize.

Carlson graduated in May with an associate degree in Communications and was also honored earlier this year by being nominated to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.

"We're all anxious to have Dr. Vaughn not only at RACC, but as a member of our community," said RACC President Dr. Anna Weitz. "The division he will be leading provides critical services for business and industry customers in terms of updating the training of their current workforce. His area also develops and delivers short-term, job training programs that have a successful track record of increasing participants' skills and moving them directly into the workforce.

"I am confident that he will help us expand these programs and assist us in developing new ones to meet changing community needs," Dr. Weitz added.

As the primary administrative officer for the non-credit division of the College, Dr. Vaughn will be responsible for coordinating and evaluating literacy and health care programs for the community offered in Schuylkill Hall, as well as short-term career training opportunities at the Gateway Career Training Center. He will also oversee business and industry training conducted in the Schmidt Training and Technology Center.

Dr. Vaughn joins the RACC administration after spending the previous 12 years as the Regional Director of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at Northern Virginia Community College. In this position, he lead the planning, development and implementation of continuing education and customized credit and non-credit programs. Dr. Vaughn also directed the expansion of business, industry and community services to local companies in the region.

Before his time at Northern Virginia, Dr. Vaughn served as the Director of Adult and Continuing Education at Newport News Public Schools in Virginia. During his time there, he supervised the major areas of Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education and English Language Acquisition.

Additionally, Dr. Vaughn was Dean of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid at Prince George's Community College in Maryland. He also worked in financial aid at Tidewater Community College in Virginia.

Dr. Vaughn earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Vanderbilt University and a Master's Degree in Human Resources Development, and Adult Education and Training from George Washington University. He completed a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration at the University of Nebraska.

Dr. Vaughn replaces John DeVere who retired in December after 23 years.

The highlight of the conference is nationally-renowned author Dr. Jay Carter who penned the best-selling book Nasty People. Dr. Carter, who has appeared in Oprah Magazine and Cosmopolitan, will talk with students about how to deal with difficult personalities.

Additional presentations include:

Surviving the Bumps in the Road
Presented by Mary Ann Chelius Smith, RACC Trustee
Sandra Graffius, Berks County Controller

Acing the Interview
Presented by Scott Heffelfinger, Director of Human Resources, RACC
Stephanie Lamanna, Delta Group

Interviews for All
Conducted by Human Resource Directors, Reading Berks Chamber of Commerce,
Karen Marsdale and RACC Trustee, Korie Sandridge

Looking Good - Feeling Great
Demonstrations and Consultations for Hair, Make-up and Attire
Presented by Deb Meas, John Zinger and team from Hair on the Avenue

Taking Time for Yourself
Mini Chair Massages by Berks Massage Works
Relieving Stress through Yoga with Body Zone and Carol Loto

The event is planned and funded by almost 30 community volunteers, including RACC Trustees Korie Sandridge and Nancy Snyder. Prior to the conference, the First Presbyterian Church and the County of Berks conducted clothing drives to collect professional clothing for our students for job interviews. Each student will receive vouchers to obtain interview-appropriate attire.

Career Programs is a division of the Office of Workforce/Economic development at Reading Area Community College. This program prepares individuals for full-time, unsubsidized employment by increasing their job skills and technical training.

For more information, contact Suzanne Christie, Job Placement Coordinator of Career Programs, at 610.372.5974 or schristie@racc.edu.