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.

The Career Services office at Reading Area Community College is hosting a Government and Non-profit Job Fair on November 13, 2018, from 12-3pm in the Student Union Building on the RACC campus. The event is open to all RACC students and graduates. Job seekers from the general public are also welcome to attend. “We are expecting more than 22 employers,” says Jen Gittings-Dalton, career development specialist at RACC. “We have employers hiring in multiple majors and career areas so we encourage all types of job-seekers to attend.”

Employers attending the fair include: Abraxas Academy, CareerLink Community Support Services, The US Census Bureau, Customs and Border Protection, Imperium Management Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Olivet Boys & Girls Club, PA National Guard, PA State Police, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, St. Luke’s University Health Network, Threshold, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, United States Air Force, US Navy, US Army, and the YMCA of Reading and Berks County.

Job seekers are encouraged to dress appropriately for interviewing and bring multiple resume copies. RACC students may create or improve their resumes by visiting the RACC Career Center, and also get help with interviewing and job search skills and any career-related questions. The Career Center is located in room B-220, Berks Hall; students may drop by during office hours or make an appointment by calling 610.607.6246.

This is the third year that the Government and Non-profit Job Fair has been held at RACC, with positive reviews from past attendees and employers. It is our hope that even more employers from the region will take advantage of this opportunity to connect with students and alumni of RACC’s many programs, and with many community job seekers as well.

“We are proud of our students and we are proud of our community. The people of Berks County are well-known for their hard work and loyalty, and RACC interns, students, and graduates add talent and skills to that foundation,” says Gittings-Dalton. 

For more information or to register as an employer please contact Pat Edgar, Career Center Specialist at 610.607.6246, careercenter@racc.edu or visit the Career Services webpage.

Washington, DC– On Thursday, October 11th, 2018, the Academic ESL Program at Reading Area Community College received national recognition as one of the four finalists in the Associate category at the Celebracion de Excelencia for evidence-based practices supporting the success of Latino and other students in its program. Celebración de Excelencia is an annual recognition event that gives national prominence to the year’s Examples of Excelencia and finalists by bringing together practitioner leaders with private, public, and philanthropic sector leadership. This annual recognition is held in the nation’s capital and is organized in cooperation with members of Congress, other elected officials, and educational leaders. In 2018 there were 139 total nominations from 27 states, DC, and Puerto Rico from which 21 finalists were chosen for their evidence of effectiveness in the ways their institutions and communities serve Latinos. In 2018, the 21 finalists represented 7 states including California, Kentucky, Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Puerto Rico.

While ESL enrollees make up only 5% of the college’s population, their program offers support for all multilingual students enrolled in credit courses through the Multilingual Learning Center. Through intentionally structured curricula, engagement in relevant and contextualized activities, and leverage of students’ use of their native languages to aid English acquisition, their program develops non-native English speakers’ proficiency in academic English to become college-ready.

Prior to 2012, an average of 24.6% of Latinos in ESL attained college-readiness in one year; now, the average is 40.6%. While overall ESL rates show a 9.2% increase in those who successfully complete freshman composition since 2012, Latino students have demonstrated the most growth, with an average increase of 13.1%.

For more information visit the ESL Program's website, or call 610.607.6224