NCC Named College of Excellence
The college is one of five in the nation recognized for demonstrating entrepreneurial excellence.
Bethlehem, PA (04/18/2019) — Northampton Community College (NCC) was one of five community colleges nationwide recognized by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) as an institution demonstrating entrepreneurial excellence. This honor was announced during the Entrepreneurial College of Excellence Awards at the American Association of Community College's (AACC) annual conference on April 15 in Orlando, Florida.
To be eligible to receive the award, college presidents must have signed NACCE's President for Entrepreneurship Pledge (PFEP). NACCE initiated the PFEP to ignite positive change across campuses and in the classroom. The colleges are selected by demonstrating excellence in one of five action steps presidents and colleges are asked to commit to when signing the PFEP. The winners in each of the steps include:
Step 1: Form teams to focus on entrepreneurship
Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, PA
Step 2: Connect with entrepreneurs in the community
Houston Community College, Houston, TX
Step 3: Collaborate with industry in your region
Pierpont Community & Technical College, Fairmont, WV
Step 4: Focus on business and job creation
Rogue Community College, Grants Pass, OR
Step 5: Share stories through events and the media
Borough of Manhattan CC, New York, NY
"The PFEP serves as the foundation for entrepreneurial leadership in our member colleges," said Dr. Rebecca Corbin, president and CEO of NACCE. "If you are doing innovative work, you deserve to be recognized and share what you are doing as part of our best practices on a national level. This is the essence of the College of Excellence award."
In 2018, NCC opened the Follett Family Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the college's Fowler Family Southside Center, providing an open learning environment where the innovative spirit, technology and skills align to drive the entrepreneurial mindset and support small businesses in the Lehigh Valley, while fostering the critical thinking skills students need to thrive in the world.
About NACCE
NACCE is an organization of educators, administrators, presidents and entrepreneurs focused on inciting entrepreneurship in their community and on their campus. NACCE has two main goals: to empower the college to approach the business of running a community college with an entrepreneurial mindset; and to grow the community college's role in supporting job creation and entrepreneurs in their local ecosystem. The association represents 300+ community and technical colleges and 2,000 faculty, staff, administrators and presidents who serve more than 3.3 million students.
About Northampton Community College
With an enduring commitment to the regional community it serves and a focus on student success, Northampton Community College has developed a reputation as an institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty and impressive student achievements. It counts among its successful alumni a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner and an Academy Award winning director as well as a host of CEOs, presidents, and leaders of business and industry. Today, Northampton Community College has locations in Bethlehem, Southside Bethlehem, Easton, and Monroe County, serving 30,000 students each year from 53 counties, 42 countries and 25 states. For more information, or to apply, please visit www.northampton.edu. Follow NCC on Twitter @NorthamptonComm and like NCC on Facebook at Northampton Community College.
Media Attachments
Northampton Community College's Fowler Family Southside Center, home to the Fowler Family Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Dr. Rebecca Corbin, President and CEO of NACCE and Dr. Mark Erickson, President of NCC