Johnson College Receives Accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Posted on August 9, 2021 at 9:42 am.

Johnson College received official notice from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) granting the College accreditation.

As a Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredited institution, students, families, and employees are assured of the quality and rigor of the educational experience provided by Johnson College. Being accredited also ensures that students who qualify may receive more federal financial aid options and that credits will transfer to and from other accredited institutions with more ease. Additionally, the MSCHE designation allows the use of a more streamlined process to add new program and increases our ability to solicit funding and grant opportunities to better prepare students to become part of the essential workforce in industries with which the College collaborates.

The affirmation comes following a huge undertaking that began in 2015. The College was awarded candidacy status in November of 2016. After the submission of Accreditation Readiness Reports, the College was approved for Self-Study in the spring of 2018. The entire College community engaged in a self-study process, which extended to 2-years due to the pandemic, involving staff, faculty, students, industry partners, board members, administration, and on-site and virtual visits from an MSCHE evaluation team.

“Becoming Middle States accredited means Johnson College will never settle for the status quo. We are committing ourselves to becoming a continuously improving organization, one that rises and succeeds together,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College. “This accomplishment was achieved by the hard work of our entire campus community. When we work together, we make a difference in the lives of our students and, in turn, our community and region.”

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a voluntary, non-governmental membership association that defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources. It examines each institution as a whole and performs peer evaluation and institutional accreditation of colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic United States.

Johnson College provides real-world, hands-on learning in a caring environment and prepares graduates to enter into or advance their careers. Johnson College degrees become essential careers. Johnson College was founded in 1912 and is the region’s premier technical college, offering 15 associate degree and 3 academic certificate programs. A low student-to-teacher ratio supports an emphasis on hands-on instruction. Located in Scranton on a 44-acre campus, the College is an accredited, private, non-profit, co-educational institution with a strong tradition of working with regional businesses and industries to ensure a skilled and qualified workforce. For additional information on Johnson College, please call 1-800-2-WE-WORK, email enroll@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu.

Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College announced the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accreditation during a Presidential Update Video distributed to the Johnson College community. To watch this Presidential Update Video, please visit: https://youtu.be/uLa4Ar-2VS8.

Photo Caption: Recently Johnson College alumni, staff and students gathered to discuss the College’s grant of accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Pictured left to right: Front row – Brandon Dougherty, ’21, Electrical Construction & Maintenance Technology, Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO, Johnson College, and Joshua Shaver, ’20, Carpentry & Cabinetmaking Technology. Back row – Bill Burke, M.S., Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs, Johnson College, Dr. Kellyn Williams, Chief Academic Officer, Johnson College, Philip Davitt, Electrical Construction & Maintenance Technology student, and Barbara Byrne M.Ed., Associate Vice President of Faculty and College Planning, Johnson College.

Op-ed: Johnson College Looks to the Future While Honoring its Past

Posted on February 3, 2021 at 8:17 am.

As industry changes and evolves to meet future needs, so does Johnson College. This year, northeastern Pennsylvania’s only two-year, hands-on, technical college will look to the future as our campus prepares for significant improvements that will change the landscape of North Scranton. The College is preparing to construct a new building to replace Richmond Hall. As our plans move forward it is important to recognize Richmond Hall’s significance in our history.

The William H. Richmond estate, which included a part of Richmond Hall, was donated more than 100 years ago to create Orlando S. Johnson’s dream of establishing and maintaining a trade school, where young people can be taught useful arts and trades that enable them to make an honorable living and become contributing members of society. While students and alumni didn’t spend as much time in Richmond Hall as they did within the walls of their academic program buildings, it was the first building they walked by or drove past when they arrived on campus. In turn, it became a symbol as the gateway to their future careers.

Since Richmond Hall was first utilized by staff and students in 1912, the mission of Johnson College has remained unwavering. We provide real-world hands-on learning in a caring environment that prepares graduates to enter into or advance their careers. We partner with industry to ensure that students get the education and skills needed for in-demand, essential careers.

At Johnson College, we play an important role in the higher education space, filling a critical niche with career-focused, technical education. We balance industry’s immediate need with where it’s headed. Students learn skills they can apply at their current job and at jobs that have yet to be created. The quality and type of education that Johnson College provides works, as evidenced by our graduate’s high placement rate and constant employer contact asking for more skilled graduates to fill their positions. At Johnson College, we are innovating to educate our students fast enough to meet employer demands, without ever sacrificing the quality of education for which we are known.

From our humble beginnings as a finishing institute offering only three courses of study, Johnson College has grown to become a two-year, accredited, non-profit college providing the best technicians and technologists to the region. Beyond academics, the College has been ranked number one for immediate return on a graduate’s investment for education among local institutions based on a 10-year return in a recent Georgetown University study; was ranked number 10 on Forbes’ Top 25 Two-Year Trade Schools in 2018; and our graduates earned pass rates above 94% on national level exams. Johnson College students are introduced to industry when they walk on campus for their first class or lab, and a majority of them start their career in their field before they walk across the stage at commencement.

As we continue to grow, our campus will change. Preparation for the new space that will replace Richmond Hall will begin soon and construction of the new building is scheduled to start later this year. To honor the original building’s legacy, parts of Richmond Hall will be repurposed throughout campus.

While the structure that is Richmond Hall will no longer stand, the symbol of Johnson College’s gateway to the future will remain. This new building will celebrate the intersection between higher education and industry; carry Orlando S. Johnson’s legacy forward; and be a space where prospective students will begin with the end in mind: their future career. It will offer classroom and lab spaces where students will get to see and use equipment they will utilize out in the workforce, meeting space that will be used by the college community and industry partners, and student-facing offices such as academics, enrollment, and financial aid. Employer and industry partners will be featured throughout.

Today, Johnson College is much different than it was in 1912. We stick to our roots, even as we evolve and grow. As President and CEO, I am extremely proud of our past, and I am excited that Johnson College graduates continue to be an essential asset to Northeastern Pennsylvania’s industries.

With so much uncertainty in the world, Johnson College remains a constant. We will always work to produce the skilled technicians needed for the workforce. Richmond Hall will be missed, but our commitment to our region remains strong. This is what will pave the way for the next 100 years, and beyond.

This is a guest op-ed written by Katie Leonard, Ed.D., President & CEO of Johnson College that was submitted to local newspapers the last week of January 2021.

Johnson College Unveils New Physical Therapist Assistant Program

Posted on April 4, 2013 at 12:17 pm.

Johnson College is pleased to announce that recruitment has begun for its newest program. The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Technology Program will begin classes in fall 2013. The PTA Program is a full-time, 5-semester, day program that consists of general education courses, technical PTA specific courses, and three clinical education experiences.

The mission of the College’s PTA Program is to provide students with an enriching educational experience so they are prepared to be competent and caring physical therapist assistants who work under the direction or supervision of a physical therapist in a variety of settings, including acute care hospitals, impatient and outpatient rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and schools. PTAs help people of all ages who have medical or health related conditions that affect their mobility or ability to perform functional activities on a daily basis. The PTA’s duties can include assisting in instructing patients in exercises and activities of daily living, using special equipment (including physical modalities), collecting data on the patient’s progress, and documenting and reporting on the patient’s response.

Students/graduates will be committed to continuing education and lifelong learning and will adhere to the behavioral expectations outlined in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Guide for Conduct and Standards of Ethical conduct for the PTA.

The Program is seeking accreditation from The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), which is an accrediting agency that is nationally recognized by the US Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The program has submitted an Application for Candidacy which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of these documents does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation Status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status id required prior to implementation of the professional/technical phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional/technical courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that that the program will be granted accreditation.

PTA is the first program to be housed in the College’s new Health Science Technology Center. Through an academic and master planning process, the College determined that a new building dedicated to health science was needed in order to offer technology-based academic programs in emerging health science fields. With the aging of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s population and related healthcare needs, plus the impact of the new medical college in Scranton, employers will be seeking a larger pool of highly skilled personnel in health science fields.

Program Director Melissa Cencetti, DPT, PT, MS, states, “We are very excited about the introduction of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Johnson College. I think that with the changes in healthcare and the economy, we are going to see an increase in need for clinicians like PTA’s who are trained at particular skills that provide a service to the community. With only five semesters of post-secondary education, students can expect to find a decent paying job in most regions across the country.”

To find out more about Johnson College and its Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Technology Program or to enroll in the Program, visit www.johnson.edu or call 1-800-2WE-WORK.

Johnson College’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Technology Program will begin classes in fall 2013.
Left to Right: Dominick Carachilo ’82, Vice President of Academic Affairs; Melissa Ide, Vice President of Enrollment Services; Melissa Cencetti, DPT, PT, MS, Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Technology Program Director

Chris Martin of Martin Guitar to Deliver Johnson College Commencement Address on May 13, 2013

Posted on April 2, 2013 at 4:32 pm.

Johnson College will hold its 94th Commencement Ceremony on Monday, May 13, 2013 starting at 6:30 p.m. The ceremony will take place at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Ave, Scranton.

At the commencement ceremony, Johnson College expects to award over 170 Associate Degrees. Along with the presentation of degrees, the program includes: special remarks by this year’s commencement speaker; an address from Dr. Ann L. Pipinski, President and CEO; and a statement from Louis A. Costanzo, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Johnson College is pleased to announce that this year’s commencement speaker will be Christian Frederick Martin, IV, Chairman and CEO of the world-renowned C. F. Martin & Co.

C. F. Martin, IV, or “Chris” as he prefers, is the Chairman and CEO of the world-renowned C. F. Martin & Co. and the sixth generation of Martin family members to run the business. Martin acoustic guitars are prized worldwide for their exceptional tone, design, craftsmanship and attention to detail. Under Chris Martin’s direction, the Company has maintained its integrity and industry wide respect while growing and prospering to unprecedented manufacturing and sales levels. Chris is an active community friend and donor to Johnson College.

Christian Frederick Martin, IV, was born on July 8, 1955. He grew up in
New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and his familiarity with the family business was limited to occasional visits to his grandfather, Christian Frederick Martin, III, and to summer jobs working at the factory. As a child, Chris took guitar lessons but “still doesn’t play in public.” For a while, he considered a career in marine biology but when he attended UCLA, he majored in economics. While in Los Angeles, Chris apprenticed at Westwood Music, building a classical guitar and familiarizing himself with the retail end of the business. After just a year, he headed back East to work in the guitar factory where he learned more about the design and construction of the Martin guitar and became familiar with many of the different operations. He attended the local community college at night and, after 18 months; he transferred to Boston University’s School of Management, earning a bachelor degree in 1978.

Chris then moved to Nazareth where he became more involved in the company, first as assistant to the president, then as vice president of marketing. When
C. F. Martin, III passed away in 1986 at the age of 93, the heir apparent was still learning about the Martin Guitar Company and he was inexperienced in running a business. Chris was also only 30 years old. Nonetheless, after a short transition, the somewhat hesitant members of the board named him chairman.

The Martin Guitar Company was not doing well when Chris took over. The preceding decade had been one of decline for the organization. Following an expensive factory expansion, there had been a severe economic recession and a strike by Martin employees. The effect of the economic downturn was compounded by a change in popular taste from folk music to electric guitars, disco and digital keyboards. In an effort to keep up with the times, the company had diversified aggressively, acquiring a drum company, a banjo manufacturing firm, a guitar string company and a guitar factory in Sweden. Of all its acquisitions, only the string company was to survive.

Shortly before Chris took over, The Martin Guitar Company cut its work force. In 1982 production had dropped to just 3,153 instruments, the lowest since World War II. Following C. F. Martin, III’s death, serious consideration was given to either selling or liquidating the company.

The new, young Chairman was determined to put the company back on track. After taking over a family business that had been in existence for over 150 years, Chris did not want to be the one to write the final chapter. He took a short course in strategic planning, was personally transformed by Outward Bound, learned public speaking and eventually re-focused the company and its employees on its primary strengths: steel stringed acoustic guitars and strings.

Chris believes in a team approach and he demands that management and employees be involved in The Martin Guitar Company’s annual strategic plan. This document is not simply prepared and filed, but is carefully created and ultimately implemented and embraced at every level. Chris regularly joins both management and hourly workers on Outward Bound programs, believing that the experience forces people to look both to themselves and members of their team for cooperative survival.

Chris’ decade-long efforts to turn the company around has succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations. Last year was The Martin Guitar Company’s most successful in the organization’s 173-year history. Martin has re-established its reputation worldwide as the builder of the highest quality guitars. Eric Clapton and Paul Simon are among the artists who have chosen to be involved in designing new limited edition guitars, and Martin once again makes more acoustic guitars than any other company in the U. S. The process is difficult and time consuming, but it’s also rewarding. Interestingly, some of the biggest competition for Martin comes from used Martin guitars which are sought after by both performers and collectors.

The Martin Guitar Company is thriving under Chris’ direction. His team-oriented management style is friendly and personal, yet firm and direct. Chris travels extensively in order to stay abreast of market trends and to hold instructional clinics at Martin dealerships around the world.

On May 19, 1990, Chris married Diane S. Repyneck, district justice from Lower Saucon Township and Hellertown, Pa. Several days after Chris had appeared in her courtroom for a traffic violation, he called to ask Diane to consider having dinner with a lawbreaker. She consented.

Read more about C. F. Martin & Co. by visiting www.martinguitar.com.

To learn more about Johnson College, check out www.johnson.edu.

Christian Frederick Martin, IV, Chairman and CEO of the world-renowned C. F. Martin & Co., will deliver Johnson College’s Commencement Address on Monday, May 13, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple.

Johnson College Appoints Special Assistant to Academic Affairs

Posted on March 27, 2013 at 10:25 am.

Johnson College continually reassesses its strategic focus in an effort to provide the best possible educational experience for students while living up to industry expectations. The latest appointment within the Academic Affairs Department demonstrates this progress. Andrew Zwanch ‘82 was recently promoted to Special Assistant to Academic Affairs.

As Special Assistant to Academic Affairs, Mr. Zwanch reports directly to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and manages all of the College’s programs of study. He assists with college-wide projects and initiatives, their implementation, and assessment. He aids in student academic issues and provides guidance to all programs in these matters. He also supports program areas with all programmatic accreditations and their compliance and provides assistance to the Vice President of Academic Affairs with requirements for governmental agencies, accrediting, and oversight agencies.

Special Assistant to Academic Affairs is just the latest on the list of Mr. Zwanch’s accomplishments at Johnson College. He began his career at the College 33 years ago as a student. In 1982, he graduated from the Tool & Die Program. After some experience in industry, he returned to the College in 1987 as a faculty member. In 1988, he was named Precision Machining Technology (PMT) Department Chairperson, and was later appointed Technology Division Chairperson in 2007. He also furthered his education and received his Bachelor of Science from SUNY Oswego in 2002.

While Mr. Zwanch acts as Special Assistant to Academic Affairs, he is also helping with the evolution the PMT Program. As one of the original programs at Johnson College, it has changed over the years as technology and the need in industry have changed. Indicators show that advanced manufacturing will be returning to the United States over the next 3-5 years. Thus, after extensive research and discussions with key constituent groups like the senior leadership team, faculty, alumni, and Program Advisory Committee members, the College sees the direction of the PMT program evolving into an Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Program with PMT remaining as a major component of the curriculum. The College hopes to start recruiting for the new AMT Program for Fall 2014.

“I strive to help keep Johnson College at the forefront of technology while never sacrificing the quality of education for our students,” states Mr. Zwanch.

Mr. Zwanch continually goes above and beyond for Johnson College, setting an exceptional example for students as well as fellow faculty and staff members.

To find out more about Johnson College, visit www.johnson.edu or call 1-800-2WE-WORK.

Andrew Zwanch ‘82 was recently promoted to Special Assistant to Academic Affairs at Johnson College.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Health Science Technology Center

Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:41 pm.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Health Science Technology Center
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 (rain or shine)
4:00pm

RSVP HERE!

The College will host a Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Business Card Exchange
in the new building following the Ribbon Cutting at 5:00pm!

Please join us for our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Health Science Technology Center on Tuesday, March 26, 2013(rain or shine). Ceremony will begin at 4:00pm and will conclude at approximately 4:30pm. The College will host a Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Business Card Exchange in the new building following the Ribbon Cutting at 5:00pm.

Johnson College broke ground on the Health Science Technology Center project on September 20, 2011. Through an academic and master planning process, the College determined that a new building dedicated to health science was needed in order to offer technology-based academic programs in emerging health science fields. With the aging of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s population and related healthcare needs, plus the impact of the new medical college in Scranton, employers will be seeking a larger pool of highly skilled personnel in health science fields.

The first program to be housed in the new building is a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program. PTAs assist a Physical Therapist in delivering therapies to the patient and help patients with exercises and other therapeutic treatments. The first class is planned to start in Fall 2013, pending all approvals from associated accrediting agencies.

To finance this new building as well as potential new degree programs, Johnson College is raising money through its first-ever Capital Campaign – the Next Century Campaign. The total goal is $4.5 million. To date, approximately 80% of the goal has been raised, which includes a $1.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program matching grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Thus far, the Health Science Technology Center is the largest project in the College’s history. Come celebrate this noteworthy achievement with us!

To learn more, contact Katie Leonard, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, at 570-702-8925.

Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association Aids Johnson College Students

Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:18 pm.

The Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association continues to invest in the future of Johnson College students by offering the Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association Scholarship. Each year, this scholarship is awarded to two senior Automotive Technology Program students who have a GPA of 2.50 or higher.

Tom Lello of Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association states, “We feel that Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association Scholarships provide a way for automotive-inclined students to obtain their career goals by providing financial support.”

The Association holds Cruise Nights in the Viewmont Mall parking lot on the last Friday of the month. Cruise Nights help raise funds for their scholarship at Johnson College as well as other charitable activities. The first Cruise Night of 2013 is scheduled for Friday, April 26, 2013.

For more information on the Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association, check out their website at http://poconomsr.tripod.com.

To find out more about Johnson College and its Automotive Technology Program, visit www.johnson.edu or call 1-800-2WE-WORK.

From Left to Right: Stephanie Orzalek, Johnson College; Tom Lello, Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association; Katie Leonard, Johnson College; George Caswell ’51, Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association; Joe Sternick, Pocono Mountain Street Rod Association

Johnson College Teams Up with Wayne County Habitat for Humanity

Posted on March 12, 2013 at 1:14 pm.

Since 1978, an integral part of Johnson College’s Carpentry and Cabinetmaking Technology Program has been the construction of a modular home that is then sold. Students gain real world experience from this impressive annual project. Over the years, the College’s modular homes have been purchased by first time homeowners, families, and those looking for vacation homes.

The College is now very excited to announce a special partnership with the Wayne County Habitat for Humanity! Moving forward, students will work on a modular that will be donated to Habitat for a family in need.

Joseph Musheno ’78, the College’s Carpentry and Cabinetmaking Program Chairperson, says, “I am very proud of the College’s partnership with the Wayne County Habitat for Humanity. Not only are students still learning their trade hands-on, but they are also becoming productive members of society by working on a project and using their expertise to give back to the community.”

To find out more about Johnson College and its Carpentry and Cabinetmaking Technology Program, check out the College’s website at www.johnson.edu or call 1-800-2WE-WORK.

From Left to Right: David F. Boniello ’84, Simplex Industries, Inc. and Johnson College Board Member; Joseph Musheno ’78, Johnson College’s Carpentry and Cabinetmaking Program Chairperson; Clyde Kreider, Building Industry Consultant and Wayne County Habitat for Humanity board member; Dominick Carachilo ’82, Johnson College’s Vice President of Academic Affairs; Andrew Zwanch ’82, Johnson College’s Special Assistant to Academic Affairs