Reading, PA –Reading Area Community College hosted almost 200 Berks County high school and middle school students, teachers and administrators for their second annual STEM Day on Friday, November 9th.

Students conducted hands-on experiments using techniques and procedures in the areas of physics, robotics, medical lab technology, respiratory therapy and even simulated crime scene investigations using forensics technology. The experiments were designed to help get students excited about how fun science can be as a career path and encourage them to make positive future life and career choices.

“For us, the most exciting aspect of the day was observing the amazing level of engagement and curiosity displayed by the students. Giving students the opportunity for interactive, hands-on experiences is one of the most effective ways of building a solid future pipeline for STEM,” says RACC president Dr. Susan Looney.

After extensive renovations in the spring and summer of 2017, RACC’s labs are dedicated to every segment of the STEM division, incorporating applied engineering and technology, physical and life sciences, and health sciences. The chemistry and physics labs were relocated into the Schmidt Training and Technology Center to better integrate both areas into the workforce development and applied engineering programs.

“We hope the students left the campus today believing that RACC is a great place to learn and earn their post-secondary STEM credentials,” says Jodi Corbett, RACC director of academic partnerships. “Our STEM division positions RACC to help meet future workforce needs by integrating advanced science lab experiences, and technology and healthcare programs,” she continues.

To learn more about the STEM programs at RACC please call 610.607.6224.

Written by David Mekeel, Reading Eagle

Reading, PA —The students sat in groups of three behind rectangular folding tables, their heads drooped in concentration directed at the sheets of paper in front of them.

Some rested their heads, tilted slightly to the left or right, on their hands. Some had bottles of water nearby. Each table featured a small bowl filled with candy.

What wasn't anywhere to be found? A calculator.

Forty-eight high school students from 16 Berks County schools gathered Wednesday morning at Reading Area Community College to take part in the 29th annual Berks County Interscholastic Mathematics Championship.

The competition - sponsored by the Higher Education Council of Berks County - pits three-member teams against one another, each working through a slew of problems in algebra, trigonometry, probability and limits. The questions, which take the form of both an individual and group written test, must be solved within a time limit and without a calculator.

The task, the students said, was tough.

"It was challenging," said Matthew Boyer, 17, a Tulpehocken High School senior. "I didn't know what to do on half the questions."

"I was confused a lot," added his teammate, Hairuo Zhao, 17, also a senior.

The team from Reading High agreed that the contest was difficult. But for 19-year-old senior Natalie Perez, that was quite all right.

"It was fun," she said, explaining that math is her favorite subject. "I loved it. I loved every minute of it."

Perez said it was thrilling not knowing what to expect and being presented with problems she had to figure out.

"That's math," she said.

Miguel Hernandez, one of Perez's teammates, felt much the same way.

"It was difficult and a bit frustrating," he said, adding that he was faced with things he'd never seen before.

But knowing that there's a lot to math that he still doesn't know, that there are frontiers he's yet to encounter, was exhilarating, he said.

"There's still so many new things out there," he said. "It's so exciting."

Speaking to the students following the competition, Dr. Susan D. Looney, RACC president, said the type of work they did Wednesday morning represents building blocks they will use in the future.

"The problems you solved this morning using algebra, trigonometry and probability are the kinds of math needed in our advanced manufacturing labs, and will serve you well in a number of majors such as criminal justice and business," she said.

Because the tests are scored by hand, results of the competitions won't be available until early December. Wyomissing won the championship last year, and Berks Catholic won it two years ago.

Reading, PA – On October 30, 2018, Reading Area Community College (RACC) and Lebanon Valley College (LVC) signed a dual admissions agreement outlining academic pathways between their institutions for students wishing to pursue a baccalaureate degree starting fall, 2018. 

Dr. Susan Looney, RACC president states, “Establishing partnerships with our regional colleges and universities provides our associate degree graduates with affordable pathways to their bachelor’s degree close to their home and work. Pennsylvania is rich with transfer opportunities for RACC students interested in highly specialized programs, such as Lebanon Valley College’s Actuary Science Degree, Music Business, and accelerated Accounting/MBA program.” 

RACC students accepted under the Dual Admission Agreement will also qualify to enroll in courses at LVC that are not offered at RACC but are required for completion of the LVC bachelor’s degree. Tuition for up to two of these courses taken prior to transfer to LVC will be charged at the LVC Community College partner discount rate.

“Community college students do very well at LVC,” says Edwin R. Wright, LVC vice president of enrollment management. “They are well prepared to jump right into upper-level courses and complete their bachelor’s or advanced degrees. LVC is looking forward to welcoming more students from RACC as a result of this collaboration.”

Other benefits of RACC- Lebanon Valley College Dual Admissions Agreement for RACC students/graduates include LVC early advising, a free application to the college, and generous merit and transfer scholarships.  

For more information about this new community college partnership, please contact Jodi Corbett, RACC director of academic partnerships, 610.607.6219.

October 9, 2018/Written by David Mekeel/Reading, PA

A few weeks ago, someone asked Dr. Susan D. Looney where she saw Reading Area Community College being five years down the road.

She responded that she saw it as being much the way it already is, with all the great things that have been going on simply being taken even further.

Looney relayed the story to a crowd gathered Monday afternoon inside RACC's Miller Center for the Arts. She said she sees students of all ages learning and succeeding. She said sees a welcoming environment that's also nimble and aggressive, able to quickly meet workforce needs.

She said she sees supportive faculty and staff, an administration that truly leads, a schoolwide ethos of never settling for the status quo. She sees graduates ready to continue their education or enter the workforce.

She said she sees herself healthy and active - still doing her 5 a.m. workouts and still leading, honored to be the steward of a great institution.

"I see myself always being #RACCProud," she concluded.

Looney will have a unique ability to make all that happen. She is, after all, the woman in charge.

Although she has been on the job since July, the 50-year-old officially took the reins as RACC's sixth president during an inauguration ceremony Monday afternoon.

Dressed in a black gown with gold piping, a purple sash around her neck and a black cap on her head, she raised her right hand and repeated her oath of office. Then, with a medallion placed around her neck and a wooden mace in her right hand, she turned to face a crowd on its feet and applauding wildly.

Looney replaced Dr. Anna D. Weitz, who retired after serving as RACC's president for 11 years.

'The Four Agreements'
During her inauguration speech, Looney said that she will lead based on four principles developed from the book "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom," by Don Miguel Ruiz.

She said that she will be impeccable with her word.

"There will be no empty promises," Looney said.

Second, she said she won't take things personally, that when she has a disagreement she won't let it poison relationships or cloud decisions.

Third, she said she won't make assumptions, instead always striving to dig deeper and learn more.

Finally, she said she will always strive to do her best.

Those principles, Looney said, will help her focus on what she calls the four hallmarks of a community college - the things by which she will measure RACC's success.

Those hallmarks are access, opportunity, excellence and hope.

Prior to her own remarks, Looney got a chance to hear what some others had to say about her. She listened to glowing reviews from the likes of state Sen. Judy Schwank and Berks County commissioners Chairman Christian Y. Leinbach. She heard from faculty and board members and a current RACC student.

Each spoke of Looney's unique path, about how she went from a high school dropout to a successful harness racer to a nervous community college student to a teacher and administrator.

Leinbach said that very few take a straight line from high school to their ultimate career destination, and Looney knows that well. He said her path makes her the perfect person to understand the often nontraditional tracks upon which RACC students find themselves.

Pair from her past
The most poignant words about Looney came from two people from her past. The first was Trudy Rich.

Twenty years ago, Rich was an introverted mother of a small child. She ended up taking a temporary job in accounts payable at a manufacturing plant and decided she could do the job better with a little more understanding. She signed up for night classes at her local community college.

"My first class was taught by the great Dr. Looney," she said.

She said Looney was endlessly supportive and encouraging, the type of teacher who would do anything for her students.

"Her office door was always open," Rich said.

Looney pushed Rich, first as a teacher and later as a mentor. With her support, Rich thrived, and today owns her own accounting business.

"Thank you, Dr. Looney, for changing my life," she said.

Similarly, Looney pushed Jan Clapp, not as a student but as an employee. Looney told Clapp that there was a job opening at Delaware Technical Community College, where Looney was then an assistant to the campus director and the director of corporate and communication programs, that was perfect for Clapp.

It was a job Clapp had no intention of taking.

"I'll see you Monday morning at 8:30 a.m.," she recalls Looney telling her, saying that Looney ended up convincing her to take the job.

"Susan Looney doesn't take no for an answer," Clapp said.

Of course, Clapp said, Looney was right. Clapp loved working at the community college, even after Looney pushed her to take over handling federal grants just two months into her tenure.

"Susan had complete faith in my abilities," she said. "She was always there to support and encourage me."

Clapp said that Looney was always a leader, not a boss. She sees the best in people, and recognizes potential and knows how to nurture and use it.

"She created a culture of 'I can; I will,' " she said.

Monday's inauguration ceremony followed a week of celebration that included, among other things, a costume parade, a flash mob dance party, a fun run, a concert and an inaugural reception.

Written by: Reading Eagle/October 5, 2018/Reading, PA

Reading Area Community College students and staff boogied in the quad Thursday, part of the school's ongoing celebration of the upcoming inauguration of its new president, Dr. Susan D. Looney.

The college this week marked Smile Week, which featured events like creating a smile postcard to give to fellow students, staff members or family members; painting smiley rocks; and a scavenger hunt.

Thursday, there was a smile parade through campus with participants dressed in smiley costumes, followed by a flash mob. Students and staff also had an opportunity to decorate smile cupcakes.

Looney's inauguration will take place Monday at 2 p.m. in the Miller Center for the Arts.