Johnson College Receives $30,000 Through “It’s On Us PA” Grant

Johnson College was one of 42 Pennsylvania institutions of higher education awarded a grant through Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s “It’s On Us PA” initiative. The $30,000 grant will help Johnson College improve campus awareness regarding sexual violence among students, faculty and staff.

The funds will help create an updated curriculum module for all students on the College’s Desire2Learn learning management system. The College will review current institutional policies, processes and resources available for reporting sexual violence and serving the needs of potential victims with a Pennsylvania Title IX consultant who will make recommendations for improved compliance and reporting. The grant will also support updated training for the College’s Title IX coordinator and staff to be sure that Johnson College is following best practice operations for continued campus safety within a climate of proactive leadership

The College’s mission is to be proactive in making students, faculty and staff fully aware of the issue of sexual violence, how to report and what resources are available to assist those in need. Additional grant activities will include a campus-wide It’s On Us program event in the spring where students, faculty and staff will be encouraged to take the It’s On Us pledge against campus violence.

“Our goal is to maintain the excellent record of low to no incidents of sexual violence on our campus,” said Dr. Katie Pittelli, Johnson College president & CEO. “Should the need arise, we want to be proactively prepared to comply with Pennsylvania law. The It’s On Us grant will help us accomplish these goals.”

The It’s On Us PA grant program was created to provide colleges and universities with support and resources necessary to shift campus culture and promote healthy relationships. The grant provides funding from January 2021 through May 2022 to implement strategies on campuses to address goals of the Governor’s It’s On Us PA campaign, which include:

  1. Improve awareness, prevention, reporting, and response systems regarding sexual violence in schools, colleges, and universities to better serve all students.
  2. Remove/reduce barriers that prevent survivors of sexual violence from reporting and/or accessing vital resources by creating a more consistent, empowering reporting process for student survivors of gender-based violence.
  3. Demonstrate significant, proactive, and sustainable leadership to change campus culture by challenging Pennsylvania’s education leaders – including college and university presidents, as well as students, teachers, faculty, staff, families, and communities to pledge to improve their institutions’ climate around sexual assault.

Since 2016, the Wolf Administration has awarded 150 It’s On Us PA grants totaling nearly $4 million to more than 70 post-secondary institutions, including public and private two-year and four-year colleges and universities.

From Headlights to Taillights: Skidding in a Winter Wonderland

By Mark Kozemko, Johnson College’s Automotive Technology Program Director

Original published in the December 25, 2020 edition of the Valley Advantage.

https://www.thevalleyadvantage.com/community-columns/from-headlights-to-taillights-skidding-in-a-winter-wonderland/article_cc41b629-9416-5d1a-8818-4bdcbe3ec407.html

So far we’ve been lucky in terms of snow fall and accumulation this year, but as we know, that can change in a heartbeat here in NEPA. The topics of snow and cold caused some to reach out about questions regarding their vehicle’s anti-lock brake and Traction Control systems.

What are anti-lock brakes?

The anti-lock brakes system — or ABS, as it’s referred to in the automotive industry — is a system that keeps your brakes on each wheel from locking up and causing a skidding condition. When wheels lock up and skid on the road surface, you have no control and cannot steer the vehicle away from possible obstacles.

How do anti-lock brakes work?

In our previous columns we mentioned how smart our vehicles are becoming. ABS makes them even smarter. Sensors in each wheel send a signal to an ABS control unit. These sensors tell the controller when a wheel is locking. The control unit then sends a signal to a solenoid that controls the hydraulic pressure to that wheel. The pressure is decreased and the wheel is allowed to keep spinning. This keeps traction on the road surface so you can safely steer the vehicle.

If your vehicle is equipped with ABS and you are driving in the snow, you don’t need to pump the brakes, but you will feel the brake pedal vibrate and you may hear some unfamiliar noises. Don’t let these vibrations or noises make you take your foot off the brake pedal. The vibrations and noises are letting you know the system is operating properly and doing its best to keep you in control of your vehicle. Taking your foot off the pedal will just deactivate the ABS system and decrease your ability to safely steer your vehicle.

What is traction control?

If your vehicle is equipped with ABS, chances are it’s also equipped with traction control. Traction control works just the opposite of ABS — it stops wheels from spinning and slipping. For instance, traction control senses that a wheel is spinning and the control unit increases hydraulic pressure to that specific wheel to stop it from spinning.

How does traction control work?

I’m sure you’ve seen videos of vehicles stuck in the snow and wheels spinning out of control and the vehicle not going anywhere. With traction control, the spinning wheel has a sensor that tells a control unit, “I’m spinning and can’t seem to stop!” The control unit sends a signal to that same solenoid I mentioned above, but this time, instead of reducing the hydraulic pressure, it increases the pressure to slow down the wheel. When this happens, the other wheels gain more traction and in most cases, will pull the vehicle out of a stuck situation.

Traction control also helps vehicles take corners better and make it around bends in the roadway without crossing the center line or having the rear of the vehicle trying to slide around the bend before the rest of the vehicle. In other words, it helps correct under-steer and over-steer.

What is correct under-steer and over-steer?

Let’s say, you’re traveling a bit too fast around a bend, and you go to turn the steering wheel but the vehicle continues to go straight. This is called under-steer. What’s happening is the front end does not follow your intended course. Sensors in the vehicle identify this problem and attempt to make corrections by braking certain wheels that will change the direction and help the vehicle make the bend. This specific under-steer situation usually occurs on front wheel drive vehicles.

If the rear of the vehicle slides across the center line, it’s called over-steer. Again, sensors in the vehicle will sense this situation and attempt to correct by braking the wheels necessary to get the vehicle around the bend safely.

Remember, ABS and traction control work together to help keep your vehicle and occupants safe. These options are standard equipment on just about all new and late model vehicles. Make sure you let them do their job and don’t let noises and vibrations make you let up on the brakes, especially now that the cold is here and snow is soon to follow.

PA State Vehicle Safety Inspection Course – March 1

Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program will be holding a Pennsylvania State Vehicle Safety Inspection course on campus March 1, 3, 8 & 10, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Space is limited. The total cost of the course is $200 for cars and light trucks. There is additional $75 fee for other vehicle categories. To learn more or to enroll, visit johnson.edu/continuingeducation or contact the Continuing Education Department at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu.

The Pennsylvania State Vehicle Safety Inspection course requirements include 12 classroom hours, a written test and a two-hour tactile test scheduled independently with the instructor. All must be completed before receiving certification from PennDOT. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis according to the date of payment. Class size is limited to 12 students so participants are encouraged to register early. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid operator’s license for each class of vehicle they intend to inspect. Classes will be held in the Automotive Center of the Weaver Building on the Johnson College campus.

Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program distinguishes itself from the College’s 2-year degree programs and certificate courses by providing its adult students the opportunity to improve their skills to stay ahead of the competition, learn new technologies, and advance in their current career. The Continuing Education courses, many taught by industry professionals, are utilized and recognized by industry partners because they’re developed in partnership with industry. The program also includes pre-employment skills testing and exclusive online courses offering certification classes for essential industries. Johnson College also assists individual students and industry partners in obtaining funding or grants so their continuing education courses are cost effective. Johnson College trains the workforce of northeastern Pennsylvania by immersing continuing education, degree and certificate earning students into industry from day one. We Work, so our students succeed. For additional information on Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program, please call 570-702-8979, email continuinged@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu/continuingeducation.

Animal and Health Science Programs’ Accomplishments

Johnson College is proud share accomplishments achieved in the past academic year by its Health and Animal Science programs.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program was granted accreditation affirmation for ten years from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

The Veterinary Technology program’s 2020 graduates received a 100% pass rate on the Veterinary Technology National Exam (VTNE).  This score places the program’s three-year pass rate at 94%.

The Radiologic Technology program’s 2020 graduates received a pass rate of 95% on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologist Radiography Exam. Johnson College graduates surpassed the 2019 national pass rate average by 6%.  

“This past year our faculty and students faced many challenges, but they persevered by sharpening their skills to advance to new levels,” said Barb Byrne M.Ed., RT (R)(MR), Johnson College Associate Vice President of Faculty. “As these pass rate scores demonstrate, our graduates’ are well prepared as they enter the workforce of many of our region’s essential industries.”

Johnson College provides real-world, hands-on learning in a caring environment and prepares graduates to enter into or advance in their careers. Johnson College degrees become essential careers. Johnson College was founded in 1912, and is the region’s premier technical college, offering associate degrees in 15 programs and 3 academic certificates. An emphasis on hands-on instruction is supported by a low student-to-teacher ratio. 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 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.

Scranton Donates Fire Engine to Johnson College

The city of Scranton recently donated a Sutphen Fire Engine to Johnson College. This donation will assist the College in providing its students the hands-on training they need to enter the region’s essential workforce.

Johnson College’s Diesel Truck Technology, Automotive Technology, and Heavy Equipment Technology students will be trained on every system of the truck, from the front bumper to the rear bumper. Student training will include engine and driveline, electrical and lighting, and basic preventative maintenance. They will also be trained on systems that are unique to firefighting vehicles including the water pumping system, water storage system, and emergency vehicle lighting and warning systems.

The faculty, staff and, most of all, the students at Johnson College thank the City of Scranton for this donation.

More information on the City of Scranton can be found at https://www.scrantonpa.gov/.

Tickets Available for Designer Purse Lottery Fundraiser

Tickets are now available for Johnson College’s first ever Designer Purse Lottery to benefit the College’s Annual Fund. Only 500 tickets will be sold for this February 2021 fundraiser presented by ShopRite. For more details about the designer purses and purchasing tickets visit Johnson.edu/purselottery or contact the Johnson College Development team at 570-702-8991.

Each $25 ticket will list two, 3 digit numbers. Throughout February 2021, if one of the numbers on a ticket comes in during the evening Pennsylvania Pick 3 lottery, that ticket’s owner will win the designer purse of the day. The numbers on the tickets are valid throughout February, so participants can possibly win more than once. Purses being raffled off include Coach, Fossil, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, and Tori Burch. To celebrate Valentine’s Day the designer purse of the night, sponsored by ShopRite, will be a Louis Vuitton Never Full Classic Bag worth $1,500.

All money raised will benefit the Johnson College Annual Fund. The Annual Fund assists Johnson College in producing the best technicians and technologists for the future essential workforce.

Tech Talk with Johnson College Podcast Episode 7 Now Available.

Tech Talk with Johnson College Podcast Episode 7, “The Pandemic’s Influence on Healthcare and Mental Health” is now available.

In this episode of Tech Talk with Johnson College, Dr. Katie Pittelli talks with LaTida Smith, President and CEO of the Moses Taylor Foundation. LaTida shares her insights on the importance of normalizing and valuing mental health, the influence of the healthcare system during the coronavirus pandemic, and how people can seize opportunities in the healthcare field – especially locally. Dr. Katie and LaTida also discuss the partnership between Johnson College and the Moses Taylor Foundation. This partnership formed because of the myriad of healthcare opportunities Johnson College offers. Plus, the desire of both organizations to educate people in the healthcare industry.

To listen to all of the Tech Talk with Johnson College Podcast episodes and learn more visit https://johnsoncollegepodcast.com/. The podcasts are also available on iTunes and Spotify.

As President and CEO of Moses Taylor Foundation (https://mosestaylorfoundation.org/), LaTida Smith operationalizes the Foundation’s commitment to improve the health of people in Northeastern Pennsylvania. With over 17 years’ experience in health legacy foundations, LaTida is driven by the opportunity to engage diverse stakeholders in identifying, prioritizing, and addressing local community health needs.

Prior to joining Moses Taylor, LaTida was Vice President of Saint Luke’s Foundation of Cleveland, directed the City of Cleveland’s HIV/AIDS Unit and served as a community educator for Planned Parenthood of Greater Cleveland.

She currently serves on the board of directors of Playworks and Highlights Foundation, the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s Advisory Board, and the University of Scranton’s Institutional Review Board. LaTida considers it a privilege to lead the development of this new philanthropy and promote collaborative strategies to increase opportunities for people in Northeastern Pennsylvania to live healthier lives.

From Headlights to Taillights: The Dreaded Check Engine Light

By Mark Kozemko, Johnson College’s Automotive Technology Program Director

Original published in the November 27, 2020 edition of the Valley Advantage.

https://www.thevalleyadvantage.com/community-columns/from-headlights-to-taillights-the-dreaded-check-engine-light/article_edec944f-ae6a-5b97-8ea1-09f9de9997ad.html

We’ve all been there.

The check engine light illuminates on the dash and suddenly you panic a little and ask yourself, “What’s happened and how do I make it go out?” No one likes it when this warning light comes on.

Today, I’ll address some of the common questions concerning the dreaded check engine light. Hopefully, this will help you put your mind at ease and help decrease the amount of anxiety that may arise the next time it comes on.

Remember, your vehicle is very complicated — and smart. The engine and drivetrain management systems are constantly monitoring driver inputs and outputs from various sensors in the engine, transmission and drive line.

Our first question is, “What issues cause the check engine light to come on?”

The most common issue is a challenge with your fuel cap. The fuel systems on modern vehicles are sealed systems. This means the systems are not supposed to allow fuel vapors into the atmosphere. If the seal on the fuel cap is damaged or even just dirty, it may cause a leak in the fuel system pressure. A loose or missing cap will do the same.

A second issue can be a faulty or dirty Mass Air Flow sensor, or MAF. This sensor monitors the amount of air entering the intake system of the engine. All the other components react to this amount of air being sent to the Powertrain Control Module.

Your vehicle’s oxygen sensors that monitor the oxygen in the exhaust system can also cause the check engine light to pop on. If the sensors are not sending the correct information, or not sending any information at all, the control unit will attempt to compensate for the information received. Sometimes the control unit can make those compensations. Other times, it will turn on the check engine light.

The last common issue is old and worn out spark plugs. When spark plugs wear, the gap that the spark has to jump across becomes larger and makes it more difficult for it to make its jump. This creates a misfire in the cylinder and reduces engine performance.

“What do I do when the check engine light comes on?” is our second question.

The first thing to do is check if your gas cap is there. I know, it sounds funny, but how many times have you seen vehicles traveling down the road with their fuel door open and the cap blowing in the wind? Or, maybe you’ve done it yourself!

If the cap is there, remove it to check the seal. When you put it back on, make sure it’s tight. If the seal is dirty, clean it and then tighten it correctly when you put it back on. If this was the issue, the check engine light will go out after a few cold starts or key cycles. If the light stays on, it’s time to visit a repair shop.

This leads us to our third question, “If the check engine light is on, is it safe to drive my vehicle to a repair shop?”

Usually, when the check engine light comes on, it will stay on steady, and you may not notice a difference in your vehicle’s performance. However, when you fill up at the pump, you may notice you’re taking on more fuel than usual. If this is the case, you should be able to drive the vehicle to your repair shop to be diagnosed.

If your vehicle experiences major misfire conditions, the check engine light will flash. This indicates the problem is current and you should not drive it to the shop. In extreme cases, most vehicle systems are designed to either shut down or go into a limp mode. This is when it’s time to call a tow truck.

Our fourth and final question is, “Is there a tool I can buy that tells me why the check engine light came on?”

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you can purchase an inexpensive code reader from your local parts store or online. These code readers will not repair your vehicle, but they can steer you in the right direction as to what caused the check engine light to come on. They can also ease your mind as to the seriousness of the problem.

When your check engine light comes on, please, don’t delay having it diagnosed and repaired as soon as possible. If you wait and continue to drive it, additional damage may cause repair costs to be a lot higher than if you had it diagnosed in a timely manner.

The check engine light is very helpful. Listen to it. Don’t fear it.

Tech Talk with Johnson College Podcast – Episode 6 Now Available

Tech Talk with Johnson College Podcast Episode 6, “Skilled Technicians are In-Demand” is now available. In this episode Dr. Katie Pittelli talks with Darryl Jayne, General Manager at Gibbons Ford in Dickson City, PA. Dr. Pittelli and Mr. Jayne share industry stories of the auto industry and in-demand skilled technicians who have come through Johnson College. You might not think about the importance of strong communication skills and the mastering of emotional soft skills. These traits are valued by all employers and surprisingly useful in the auto-industry.

To listen to all of the Tech Talk with Johnson College Podcast episodes and learn more visit https://johnsoncollegepodcast.com/. The podcasts are also available on iTunes and Spotify.

Darryl Jayne has been with Gibbons Ford for the last 8 years. He started in the industry 42 years ago selling automobiles. He was drawn to the business and knew right away that it would be a forever career. Jayne has been with the same company for the duration of his career, minus one month at the beginning and five years in the middle.

Jayne says the past eight plus years in the role of General Manager have been very rewarding and diversified. He was the primary contact on the building of Gibbons Ford’s new 5 million dollar facility and orchestrated the move of their team, product and processes. Over the recent years, he’s had been very fortunate to have collected and employed some of the finest team members in the automotive industry. This has propelled Gibbons Ford to becoming one of the largest Ford dealers in the state, on track to achieve 100 million in sales by the end of 2020.

Per Jayne, the reason for Gibbons Ford’s success has always been our employees and their efforts. Jayne is called to find the right people to do that and he truthfully believes that it’s his my biggest asset. Most of Gibbons Ford’s success is because their owner supported, encouraged and gave their employees the opportunity to grow.

Jayne is a Norte Dame fan who was born and raised in the valley and a proud graduate of Valley View High School in Archbald, PA. He enjoys golfing with his wife Suzy, who he’s been married to for 15 years. Jayne serves on the board at one of the local golf clubs, which despite many challenges has been very rewarding. He is also the primary care giver for his 95-year-old mother who still bakes and makes homemade jellies and jams.