ABOUT CENTRAL PENN COLLEGE

A Brief History of the College

Central Penn College traces its history to 1881, when Joseph N. Currey founded the Pennsylvania Business College at 307 Market Street in Harrisburg, Pa. For the next 89 years, a continuous series of career-oriented business colleges existed on Market Street in the heart of Harrisburg’s business district. In 1922, Professor William H. Hartsock opened the doors to Central Pennsylvania Business College at that location, where it thrived for the next 58 years.

In 1970, Central Pennsylvania Business School moved across the Susquehanna River to Summerdale, Pa., under the leadership of President Bart Milano. The suburban campus featured all-new academic buildings, apartment-style housing and recreation facilities. The transition from business school to college began in 1977 when the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools accredited Central Penn.

In 1999, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognized Central Penn as a two-year college with degree-granting privileges. In December 2000, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Education approved Central Penn College to operate as a four-year degree-granting college.

In 2002, the college doubled the size of its academic buildings with the opening of the Advanced Technology Education Center (ATEC). Later that year, Henszey’s Bridge––an 1869 wrought-iron structure listed in the National Historic Register––was restored and placed in the center of the campus. The Charles “T” Jones Leadership Library opened its doors in October 2002 to serve Central Penn’s academic needs.

In 2004, Central Penn College began offering online courses at the Lancaster Center––its first additional location––to serve adult students enrolled in associate and bachelor’s degree completion programs in a variety of majors. In 2005, Central Penn was granted permission from the Middle States Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to begin offering two online bachelor’s degree programs. Today, Central Penn’s online offerings include 13 online degree programs and one blended degree program provided through a blend of in-person and online instruction.

The Central Penn College Education Foundation was established in 2002 and awarded its first scholarship in 2005. Since 2005, over 3,000 Central Penn College students have received scholarships through the Education Foundation. The purpose of the Education Foundation is to provide scholarships to worthy students, award professional assistance to CPC faculty, and provide grants in support of the educational and charitable mission of Central Penn College. In the granting of scholarships, the Foundation shall not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin. It shall not, directly, or indirectly, support any institution which discriminates on the basis of race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its policies and programs.

In June 2013, the College was granted approval to begin offering the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree program, further enhancing the institution’s commitment to career-focused education.

In 2014, Central Penn College celebrated the grand opening of The Underground, a new student union space. The Underground features a dance studio, fitness center, student lounge, offices and the Capital BlueCross Theatre.

In April 2014, the Lancaster Center unveiled a new Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) lab and classroom. The new lab features the equipment found in a typical PTA lab, such as electric muscle stimulation, ultrasound, paraffin baths, a traction table and ambulation devices, as well as a Hoyer Lift®—a patient lift unit that most students don’t have the opportunity to use until they are actually working in a clinic. That summer, Central Penn College welcomed its first group of PTA students at the Lancaster Center. The competitive program limits enrollment at just 30 qualified students a year during the winter term. The first cohort of students at the Lancaster PTA program graduated in May 2016.

In 2015, new bachelor’s degree programs in Health Science and Healthcare Management were added to the School of Health Sciences, expanding Central Penn’s already impressive offerings.

In fall 2015, the first classes were held in the newly renovated Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Health Sciences building. Upgrades began in the summer of 2014 and included two new state-ofthe-industry laboratories, a computer lab, office space and an additional lab wired for future use with high-fidelity simulation.

In the late summer of 2015, renovations began on the former townhouses along College Hill Road. The renovations to the Super Suites were completed in July 2016. Each Super Suite consists of seven single rooms and a large common area, allowing students the privacy they need, while still enjoying the benefits of communal living. In addition, security and safety measures have been upgraded, including keycard access and built-in fire ladders on the second floor.

This project opened up a whole new world of programming opportunities within the Residence Life Department. The new Super Suites enable residents to enhance their college experience through student-directed, themed living/learning communities. Students now have the opportunity to gain leadership experience through the Resident Assistant program.

In June 2018, Dr. Linda Fedrizzi-Williams became the college’s 10th president after serving as interim co-president and provost/vice president of academic affairs for the previous two years. Under her leadership, the college has directly addressed affordability by freezing tuition, reforming fees, and launching an innovative Housing Scholarship program. Full-time students are eligible to receive a scholarship to cover all housing costs on campus for their first two academic years by maintaining full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic performance. Eligible students may renew it for an additional two years to cover up to four years total of housing costs on campus. See an admissions counselor for further details to see if you qualify.

In 2019, Central Penn College adopted the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan to guide the growth and next great phase of change at Central Penn College. Staking out core values such as “Students are Family” and “Delivering Experiences That Excel,” the five-year plan is a road map for what to expect in the years ahead at Central Penn College.

As evidence that the College continues its commitment to career-focused education, more than two dozen new professional certificates and diplomas have been added since 2021. Our newest programs in the field of dentistry will enroll starting with the 2023-24 academic year. Our goal remains to present our students with highly relevant training and education to secure employment in high-demand occupations in Central Pennsylvania and beyond.

Mission

Central Penn College opens opportunities to students from a variety of academic backgrounds by providing the education needed for employment and advancement in their fields.

Vision

To become a leading resource for professional education in the Central Pennsylvania Region and beyond.

Core Values

Integrity denotes the desire to model honesty, ethical behavior, and civility in personal and professional dealings.

Scholarship denotes Central Penn’s emphasis on the development of students’ minds through critical thinking, problem solving, and the use of intellectual resources.

Excellence denotes Central Penn’s desire to provide holistic support for students’ success in their academic pursuits and to equip them to recognize and realize opportunities for professional development.

Professionalism denotes Central Penn’s pride in providing students with a well-rounded set of skills, such as critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, open communication and civility, which enables them to stand out in their respective fields.

Inclusivity denotes not only the rich diversity of Central Penn’s student body, staff, faculty, and administration, but also an attitude that embraces and celebrates every member of the Central Penn community and the valuable lessons they can teach each other.

Community Service denotes both Central Penn’s purpose of creating a community where all students are welcome and to pass on that sense of community, so that students will be motivated to make a positive impact in the community, society, and world in which they live.