Erie County Community College is a public community college in Erie, Pennsylvania.
History Locals in Erie County established a nonprofit called Empower Erie in 2016 to explore the possibility of opening a community college in the region. The group included co-founder Ron DiNicola, who would eventually serve as the first Chair of the Board of Trustees, and advocated for this goal for about seven years.Rao, A. J. "Ron DiNicola, longtime advocate of Erie County Community College, to step down from board of trustees". Erie Times-News. July 28, 2022. The college, nicknamed EC3, opened in Fall 2021 with 231 students using rented classrooms in a private high school.Weissman, Sara. "A New Community College Sees Growth and Challenges", Insider Higher Ed, October 10, 2024. While the college waited for the results of its accreditation application, students who were residents in Erie County received free tuition thanks to federal COVID relief funds.Myers, Valerie. "Erie County Community College, now a year old, has been 'a blessing' for students". Erie Times-News. August 22, 2022.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education acknowledged the institution's application for accreditation in November 2024 in anticipation of an on-site evaluation in the 2026-2027 academic year.
References
External links Official website