College is holding a Diving Into The STEM Degrees Event

On Thursday, April 21, 2022, Johnson College is holding a Diving Into The STEM Degrees event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Moffat Student Center on its campus in Scranton. Prospective students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators from local high schools interested in learning more about the College’s STEM-focused 2-year academic degree programs are encouraged to attend. 

Program Directors and instructors from the College’s Biomedical Equipment Technology, Electronic Engineering Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, and Mechatronics Technology programs will discuss each program’s hands-on curriculum, overall learning goals, and career opportunities. Attendees will also receive tours of each program’s labs.

To attend the Diving Into The STEM Degrees event, please register at https://johnson.edu/stem/ or contact the College’s enrollment team at enroll@johnson.edu or (570) 702-8856.

Registration Now Open for 3D Printing Competition for High School Students

Johnson College will host its second 3D Printing Competition for local high school students on Friday, March 11, 2022 (Snow date March 18, 2022). The competition is an opportunity for students to showcase their abilities and creativity using science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) techniques. All students and groups must be registered by a school staff member who will also serve as an advisor while their students are on the Johnson College campus the day of the event. To register, please visit, https://forms.gle/9gCnK8uTiCA4w5eJ7.

Upon registration, a document will be emailed detailing additional information. Registration ends February 11, 2022. Prizes are to be announced.

This year’s competition requires high school students to compete individually to design and make an assembly to span 500mm (19.685”). The assemblies can only be made using 3D printed parts and must weigh no more than 2000 grams. Each assembly will be tested to the point of breaking. The student with the assembly that bears the most weight at the time of breaking will be declared the winner. Each competitor(s) must submit a complete technical drawing of all parts and assembly.

Now Offering Professional Automotive and College Experience Program to High School Students Enrolled in OVR

Johnson College is offering an Automotive industry-driven career exploration experience to high school students enrolled in the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). This program will be held from July 26 through August 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Johnson College campus and industry partner locations. Students will have an opportunity to dive into a college experience and develop skills to prepare them for success on and off a college campus. They will also receive exposure to the automotive industry through a paid internship program.  

The second week of the program will run from 9 a.m. to noon and will take place at different industry partner locations allow students to shadow local automotive industries and gain first-hand knowledge and experience.

For more information and to register, email Tim Frank, Academic Program Specialist at Johnson College, at tfrank@johnson.edu. This event is free for students enrolled in the OVR program.

Now Offering Immersive College Experience Program to Office of Vocational Rehabilitation High School Students

Johnson College is offering an Immersive College Experience to high school students enrolled in the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). This program will be held from July 26 through July 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Johnson College campus. Students will gain knowledge about the college application process, financial aid, how to succeed on and off a college campus, and will participate in STEM activities.

The interactive STEM activities will provide a learning experience that fosters creativity while teaching invaluable technical skills. They will include an introduction to programming, robotics, coding, and other aspects of STEM.

For more information and to register, email Tim Frank, Academic Program Specialist at Johnson College at tfrank@johnson.edu. This event is free for students enrolled in the OVR program.

Now Enrolling Middle and High School Students in STEM Energy Outreach Program

Johnson College is now enrolling middle and high school students in its on-campus STEM Energy Outreach Program on Monday, June 7, 2021, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This program introduces students to green, renewable energy through solar concepts using an interactive, hands-on demonstration. For more information and to register visit, https://forms.gle/jTNphmJzbzMR9dSc7 or email Dr. Kellyn Williams, Chief Academic Officer at Johnson College, at knolan@johnson.edu. Space is limited. The STEM Energy Outreach Program is made possible by a grant from the PPL Foundation.

Students will participate in the interactive learning experience by assembling K’nex Education Renewable Energy sets with Johnson College Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Kellyn Williams. The completed K’nex kits will be shared with additional schools as part of future Johnson College STEM Outreach Programs. 

The PPL Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. Through strategic partnerships, the Foundation: supports organizations working to create vibrant, sustainable communities; promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion; and empowers each citizen to fulfill her or his potential. 

Johnson College Receives $490,381 Grant from the USDA for Rural Distance Learning Program

Johnson College has been awarded a $490,381 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of the agency’s Telemedicine and Distance Learning Program. This grant will support the College’s goal to implement a distance learning program improving access to higher education opportunities for rural areas in Wayne, Pike, and Susquehanna counties.

The project will link Johnson College with four rural high schools: Forest City Regional High School, Honesdale High School, Wallenpaupack Area High School, and Western Wayne High School.  As well as three libraries: Lakewood Library, Newfoundland Library, and Pleasant Mount Library by high-tech telecommunications equipment.

Both high school and adult students will have interactive, two-way access to Johnson College faculty and will participate in remote education, discussions, testing, and skill demonstrations. Laboratories and classrooms at Johnson College will be similarly equipped to enable maximum interaction between faculty and students. In addition, the three rural libraries will be equipped with laptops to give community residents access to career exploration services and information about courses at Johnson College. Students participating in the distance learning program will be able to work towards completing any one of the 15 academic programs Johnson College offers.

The project will create a direct route to career technology education (CTE), a college degree, and ultimately a fulfilling career with family-sustaining wages for students in rural Northeastern Pennsylvania. For many families, this will be the first generation empowered to attend college and removes several barriers like transportation to make college possible. We will focus on a distance learning platform using the latest in two-way interactive telecommunications technology to create an environment that is as close to the Johnson College onsite classroom and laboratory experience as possible while being delivered in the high school community.

The rural nature of the region presents several barriers to students and community residents in accessing higher education. The high schools collaborating on this project are between 21 and 31 miles from Johnson College. Because of family responsibilities, cultural norms, or factors related to working while enrolled in school, many students stay close to home for college. When there are no institutions of higher education close by, transportation and distance become barriers to upward mobility, fulfilling careers, and financially rewarding positions. This program can change that through distance learning and telecommunications. This strategy has several benefits for the individual student, the community, the industry partners needing more workers, and the state/regional/local economic development efforts.

This project also benefits Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education which is integral to the College’s curriculum for all students attending Johnson College, whether through distance learning, online learning, or on-campus learning. The specialized STEM training made possible by this grant funding will give students the opportunity to start their college degree while still in high school and complete earlier for in-demand positions throughout the region, as well as provide an opportunity to train non-high school students for new careers due to job loss or the desire for positions with higher family-sustaining wages.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with these schools and libraries to bring the Johnson College experience to those who otherwise might not be able to take advantage of it,” said Dr. Katie Pittelli, President & CEO of Johnson College. “Everyone should have the opportunity to learn skills that can lead to family-sustaining wages for in-demand careers.”

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-08) congratulated Johnson College and applauded the project. “As the internet fuels more innovative higher learning options, we need to invest to make sure they are accessible,” said Cartwright. “Projects like this open the door to exciting educational opportunities that give more students a shot at a fulfilling career, regardless of their zip code. I want to congratulate Johnson College on this well-deserved federal award.”

In addition to the distance learning opportunity this funding provides, students will also have access to Johnson College’s full array of on-campus support services including tutoring, counseling, career advisement, financial aid, internship opportunities, and exposure to industry from day one. Distance learning will help high school and adult students reach their full potential, and connect with the region’s essential careers already in demand.

Johnson College to Offer Pre-Employment Transition Program

Johnson College, in conjunction with The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and KANE Logistics will be offering a Pre-Employment Transition Service (Pre-ETS) Program to qualifying students attending local member school districts, starting August 2021. OVR is a state & federally funded agency that assists people with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, maintain or advance in employment.  OVR offers several Pre-ETS programs, including paid work experience transition opportunities for youth with disabilities, who have a post-secondary goal of employment. This gives students the opportunity to prepare for competitive employment. This program will prepare students to become entry-level warehouse associates, with a fundamental understanding of the supply chain. For more information about this program contact Dr. Kellyn Williams, Johnson College’s Chief Academic Officer at 570-702-8940 or knolan@johnson.edu.

Due to the pandemic, classes for this 6-month certificate program will be held online. If federal and state guidelines are updated, classes will be held on the Johnson College campus on Main Avenue in Scranton, PA and at KANE Logistics located in the Stauffer Industrial Park in Scranton, PA.

Students will gain an understanding of the physical and technological process, along with the safety considerations of warehouse/distribution operations. Additionally, students will learn about facility configuration, storage and handling techniques, picking and shipping processes, customer service expectations, and the overall role distribution operations plays in the supply chain. Students will earn college credit, an OSHA certification and a forklift certification. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to be potentially hired by KANE Logistics.

More information about The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) can be found at https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/ovr/Pages/default.aspx.

More information about KANE Logistics can be found at https://www.kanelogistics.com/.

College to Host Virtual and In-Person Fall Open House Events

Johnson College will hold a virtual Fall Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020 at 6 p.m. via Zoom and an in-person Fall Open House on its campus in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To register for both or one of the Open House events visit Johnson.edu/openhouse. You can also contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu.

Both Open House events will include discussions about the admissions process, and financial aid for those who qualify. Plus, we’ll talk about student services such student life, student support, and career services.

During the in-person Open House, same day acceptance will be available, if students bring their high school or college transcripts. Tours of each technical area will be conducted and department chairs will be available to review the specifics of their programs. Social distancing and sanitization guidelines will be followed and face coverings must be worn at all times while on campus. Attendees will receive a limited edition Johnson College face covering.

Johnson College provides real-world, hands-on learning in a caring environment and prepares graduates to enter into or advance in their careers. Our degrees become essential careers. Johnson College was founded in 1912, and is the region’s premier technical college, offering associate degrees in 15 programs. An emphasis on hands-on instruction is supported by a low student-to-teacher ratio. Located in Scranton on a 44-acre campus, Johnson is an accredited, private, non-profit, co-educational institution with a strong tradition of working with regional business and industry 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.