NCC Celebrates Thirty Years in Monroe County

Partnering with local businesses, the college continues to boost the region's economy

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BETHLEHEM, PA (10/08/2018) Thirty years ago, visionary community, educators and business leaders saw the need for a Northampton Community College education in the heart of Monroe County. The college began offering classes in makeshift, rented space in Stroudsburg in 1989. Since then and two moves later, the Monroe Campus of NCC has become a major player in the region's economic growth, filling employers' needs for a highly trained workforce and providing career opportunities and affordable higher education in the area. As the world grows more technological, the demand for skilled labor has burgeoned. In collaboration with area businesses, the campus continues to develop its programs to meet present needs and to anticipate future ones.

In 1992 the College purchased a former blouse factory on Old Mill Road in Tannersville. But, even after two expansions, the campus grew cramped as enrollment grew. Administrators and board members decided it was time to construct a new campus.

They found a perfect location, a property off Route 715 and near Interstate 80. Easily accessible from these major roads, the site is also scenic; the Delaware Water Gap, Wind Gap, Big Pocono Mountain and other vistas are visible from the campus.

The site was once the Gantzhorn Farm, purchased in the mid-1800s by John D. Gantzhorn, the son of a German immigrant. With the help of his thirteen children, Gantzhorn cleared and cultivated a then-rocky 165 acres for farming. In 2005, NCC purchased the property from descendants of John D. Gantzhorn, some of whom graduated from the Bethlehem Campus in the 1970s.

The new Monroe Campus officially opened on August 26, 2014. It is LEED Gold-certified for environmental sustainability, features a geothermal heating and cooling system, large solar panels over the parking lots, and native vegetation that reduces the amount of storm water runoff generated by the campus. Large windows let in natural light.

Students, faculty, staff, and community members derive great benefit from the campus. More than 2,500 students a year receive education and training there. About one in six Monroe High School graduates starts college at NCC Monroe. The campus also hosts community group events and has an art gallery.

The campus's programs offer many opportunities for students and local businesses. Situated near several Poconos resorts, students prepare for hospitality careers through internships at these vacation spots.

New programs, developed with regional employees, include an RN program, an associate degree program in engineering, adventure tourism and certificate programs in medical assisting and medical technology.

Thanks to the foresight of many educators and residents, the NCC Monroe Campus continues to build on its founders' vision.

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.