Lebanon Valley College Announces Renewal of Historic Partnership with Dixon University Center

LVC Returns to Harrisburg

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Dixon University Center

ANNVILLE, PA (09/29/2014)(readMedia)-- Dr. Gregory Buckley, associate dean of graduate & professional studies at Lebanon Valley College, announced that the College will offer corporate training solutions and two post-graduate programs at the Dixon University Center's Harrisburg campus, beginning in January 2015. Registration is now open for these programs, the first the College has offered at Dixon since 1989.

In September 1951, Lebanon Valley College teamed with Elizabethtown College to establish the College Center in Harrisburg, an innovative collaboration that offered evening college classes to adults in the Harrisburg area. The consortium of institutions changed facilities, expanded over time, and was eventually renamed the University Center of Harrisburg. LVC later withdrew from the partnership in 1989. It was renamed the Dixon University Center in 1994.

Today, the Dixon University Center is an academic center that provides the advantages of public and private institutions. Nine colleges and universities offer an expansive menu of undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, as well as professional development and customized training on-site. Geared toward adult students with busy schedules, programs offer flexible scheduling in one convenient location.

Through its Office of Graduate & Professional Studies, LVC renewed the partnership this fall and will begin offering two post-graduate programs at the Dixon University Center in January.

"We approached them about offering our new post-baccalaureate programs in business administration and healthcare management," Dr. Buckley said. "We will offer the certificates at the Dixon Center in Harrisburg, at the IU-13 in Lancaster, and here on the Annville campus. We're also exploring the possibility of videoconferencing courses among the three locations and offering non-credit professional development programming at the Dixon University Center. DUC is an incredible facility, and it's a wonderful opportunity for Lebanon Valley College to again be a part of it and the Harrisburg metropolitan region."

"LVC's programs at the Dixon University Center will add value to the continuing and professional needs of people living and working in the greater Harrisburg area," said Lorelee Isbell, director of continuing education and conference services at the Dixon University Center. "They will join with the eight other college and university partners to impact economic development in the region."

The post-baccalaureate certificate in business administration also fulfills prerequisite coursework for those interested in continuing on to earn an MBA from LVC at its main campus in Annville, but who did not major in a business field as an undergraduate. In addition, those who complete the health care management certificate program will have also completed the prerequisites and master's level electives for LVC's MBA in health care management degree that is offered in Annville. These certificates are ideal for working professionals who want to gain the essential knowledge and skills to excel in the business or health care fields, or who need the pre-requisites to continue toward an MBA.

Buckley notes that in addition to rejoining the Dixon University Center, LVC is forging new ties with area employers.

"Beth Romanski, our new director of professional studies, is developing partnerships with local employers to meet their needs," he says. "Beth looks at synergistic partnerships with organizations who may want a credentialed program offered to their employees-such as our MBA or certificate programs-but who might also be interested in customized noncredit professional development courses to meet very specific skill sets."

The Office of Graduate & Professional Studies is also creating partnerships with government professional associations and offices. For example, they recently partnered with the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to offer a series of five training courses that began this fall to the supervisors of the Commonwealth's 1,454 townships. Participants will be able to take courses virtually and onsite, using our technology. "It's a wonderful opportunity for Lebanon Valley College's name to extend across the state," Buckley notes. "When we met with representatives of PSATS, we were able to clarify exactly what type of delivery they were looking for and the specific types of courses they were interested in to create a customized training program to enable municipal employees to perform better in their jobs."