UPMC Gift to Support Penn College Nursing Expansion in Wellsboro

Published 12.14.2017

News
Penn College at Wellsboro
Workforce Development

The gift of a UPMC Susquehanna-owned property to Pennsylvania College of Technology will enable the college to address workforce and educational needs in the Northern Tier by expanding the nursing program it offers in Wellsboro.

The Penn College Board of Directors on Thursday approved transfer of the 8,400-square-foot facility at 22 Walnut St., Wellsboro, for $1. The agreement is contingent upon the college using the building to expand its Practical Nursing Program in Wellsboro.



The UPMC Susquehanna Board must also approve the agreement, which is expected to be finalized in early 2018. Renovations are anticipated to begin soon afterward, and the college hopes the nursing program can move into the facility by early 2019. The expansion would accommodate an increase in enrollment capacity for the full-time, yearlong program from 18 to 24 students initially. Additional programming options may be explored later; the college would hire additional instructors as needed.

“We are excited to be able to expand our nursing education program in Wellsboro, and we are grateful to UPMC Susquehanna for this generous gift,” said Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour. “This expansion will address an identified need in the region while providing more options to those pursuing nursing as a career.”

“During the past several years, the national nursing shortage has spread across northcentral Pennsylvania,” said UPMC Susquehanna President Steven P. Johnson. “We believe this contribution to the Pennsylvania College of Technology is a wise investment in an outstanding educational institution.

“We also believe the return on this investment will help reduce the nursing shortage and pay dividends for generations by providing top-quality employees who deliver top-quality service to our patients.”

The Practical Nursing Program at Wellsboro prepares graduates to take the Practical Nursing National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) to become licensed practical nurses in Pennsylvania. LPNs may seek employment in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, physician offices, clinics and home care agencies.

Instruction features more than 1,500 hours of classes and clinical experiences from January to December. Clinical experiences take place in a variety of acute and long-term care settings in the region.

For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.