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Award-Winning Authors Launch Fall Wordsmiths Series
Jennifer Tseng and Amy Small-McKinney came to Bucks County Community College September 26 for a reading, reception and book-signing Bucks County Community College, which has a 60-year history of bringing world-renowned authors to Newtown, launched the 2025-26 Wordsmiths Reading Series Friday, September 26, in historic Tyler Hall on the college’s Newtown Campus. Pictured (left-right) are poet and fiction writer Jennifer Tseng, Professor Ethel Rackin, and poet Amy Small-McKinney. The series continues at 12:30 Thursday, October 23, with poet Lynn Fanok. All readings are free and open to the public. Learn more by visiting the Wordsmiths webpage. (CREDIT: Jean Dolan, Bucks County Community College)
About Bucks County Community College
Founded in 1964, Bucks County Community College is a two-year, public institution offering more than 90 programs of study that lead to either an associate degree or certificate, as well as many workforce training programs on campus, on site, or online. Successful graduates directly launch a career or transfer to four-year colleges and universities to complete a bachelor’s degree, depending on the major. Classes are offered on campus in Newtown, Bristol, and Perkasie, and worldwide through Bucks Online. To learn more, visit the Bucks County Community College web page.
“Real Diamond” Brings “Sweet Caroline” to Newtown October 11
Neil Diamond tribute concert features many of the legendary singer’s top hits, part of the Bucks Live! series of cultural events Bucks County Community College, which has a long tradition of bringing high-caliber performances to the region with Bucks Live!, proudly presents “Real Diamond” – a tribute to the legendary Neil Diamond – at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 11.
Fronted by Curt Di Domizio, “Real Diamond” delivers a stunningly realistic interpretation of one of America’s most beloved singer-songwriters. The performance includes timeless hits such as “Kentucky Woman,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Sweet Caroline,” “Song Sung Blue,” “America,” and many more.
Neil Diamond’s music has spanned more than five decades, with record sales of over 130 million worldwide. Inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Diamond is known for his poetic lyrics and infectious melodies that have become part of the soundtrack of American life.
“Real Diamond is more than a tribute – it’s an experience,” said Pete Chiovarou, director of community programming and college events at Bucks County Community College. “Audiences will be transported back through Neil Diamond’s incredible career with a show full of energy, authenticity, and heart.”
Tickets for “Real Diamond” are $27 (free for current BCCC students with ID) and can be purchased at bucks.edu/tickets or at the box office.
The concert takes place in the Zlock Performing Arts Center on the Newtown Campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., where there is ample free parking. For directions and a campus map, visit bucks.edu/newtown.
“Real Diamond” is part of the Bucks Live! series of innovative programs that entertain, inspire, and enrich Bucks County’s cultural landscape. For a full schedule of Bucks Live! performances this season, visit bucks.edu/tickets.
About Bucks County Community College
Founded in 1964, Bucks County Community College is a two-year, public institution offering more than 90 programs of study that lead to either an associate degree or certificate, as well as many workforce training programs on campus, on site, or online. Successful graduates directly launch a career or transfer to four-year colleges and universities to complete a bachelor’s degree, depending on the major. Classes are offered on campus in Newtown, Bristol, and Perkasie, and worldwide through Bucks Online. To learn more, visit bucks.edu.
Find Your Roots at Family History Event
Bucks County Community College invites you to learn from historical and genealogical societies Thursday, October 2 To mark the start of Family History Month, the Bucks County Community College Library invites the public to celebrate Thursday, October 2, to learn about how to trace your family tree and more.
“Whether you’re an avid genealogy enthusiast or just starting out, we will have plenty of resources to help you in your family history journey,” said Kelly Deeny, the librarian who organized the event. “We will have several genealogy and history organizations on hand from throughout our region to help you find your roots or guide you in the right direction.”
Event Details
From noon to 2 p.m., guests can visit information tables from the following organizations:
The Bucks County Genealogical Society
The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
The Bucks County Historical Society - Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle
The Bucks County Free Library
The Bucks County Community College Library
The Volta Center for Writing Arts
The free genealogical research assistance is not limited to Bucks County or even this country; help is available with research that extends to other countries as well, Deeny noted. It’s also an opportunity to learn more about the historical significance of Bucks County, while writers can work creatively with writing prompts suggested by the Volta Center.
Visitors can also learn about the archives and cultural heritage collections available at the BCCC Library, where Bucks County residents can check out materials at the Newtown Campus, the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol, and the Upper Bucks Campus in Perkasie.
“The Bucks County Community College Libraries are a hidden gem of resources,” said Director of Libraries Monica Kuna. “With over 100,000 volumes, a Celtic collection, an Italian collection, and an African Diaspora collection, we support learning for not only our students but also the community.”
When & Where
The Family History Event takes place from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, October 2, in the Gallagher Room, located in the Rollins Center building on the Newtown Campus. Admission is free. For more information, contact the BCCC Library at 215-968-8009 or library@bucks.edu.
The Newtown Campus is located at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For a campus map and directions, visit bucks.edu/newtown.
To learn more about the Bucks County Community College Library, visit bucks.edu/library. To apply for a community library card, visit bucks.edu/library/services/community.
About Bucks County Community College
Founded in 1964, Bucks County Community College is a two-year, public institution offering more than 90 programs of study that lead to either an associate degree or certificate, as well as many workforce training programs on campus, on site, or online. Successful graduates directly launch a career or transfer to four-year colleges and universities to complete a bachelor’s degree, depending on the major. Classes are offered on campus in Newtown, Bristol, and Perkasie, and worldwide through Bucks Online. To learn more, visit bucks.edu.
Bucks County Community College Authorized to Open Municipal Police Academy
Bucks County Community College has moved a step closer to opening a police training academy following a crucial vote by a state commission, College officials announced.
On September 11, the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) voted unanimously to establish a new police academy in Bucks County. Although the initiative is in its early stages, the commission’s vote supports opening the academy at Bucks County Community College, which has campuses in Bristol, Newtown, and Perkasie.
“We are pleased that our application has taken the next step toward bringing vital law enforcement training to Bucks County,” said Bucks County Community College President & CEO Patrick M. Jones. “It’s notable that our initiative received letters of support from all three Bucks County Commissioners, all 13 members of our state legislative delegation, the police chiefs of Bucks County, and the Bucks County Sheriff.”
The concept was initially raised by faculty in the College’s criminal justice program, according to Dr. Samantha Gross, dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
“The idea of having a police academy at our college is something that’s always been on the radar of our criminal justice faculty,” noted Gross. “Several of them are former police officers and made us aware of the opportunity to apply. We worked as a team on the application, and our faculty’s knowledge and expertise were indispensable throughout the process.”
Those faculty members included Professor Robert J. Ritchie, Dr. Robert F. Ritchie, Professor Al Sigafoos, and Professor Sarah Jakub, Gross added.
The municipal police academy will offer the state’s Act 120 basic police officer training, a comprehensive, mandatory, 919-hour program designed to prepare an individual for certification to become a police officer within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, according to Gross, adding that both full- and part-time training schedules are planned.
The academy will be housed at the Newtown Campus, where there is ample classroom space and facilities. The nearest such training facilities are currently in Philadelphia and Montgomery County.
MPOETC, which establishes the minimum curriculum and training standards for municipal police officers, also approved Luzerne County Community College’s application to establish a police academy to serve northeastern Pennsylvania.
Bucks County Community College's Tutors Meet the 'Gold Standard'
Bucks County Community College, which offers students free tutoring through its Academic Success Center, has retained the highest level of tutor training certification from the internationally recognized College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA).
The Academic Success Center has been renewed for all three levels of certification that the CRLA provides – basic, advanced, and master. Each level requires a minimum of 10 hours of training, 25 hours of tutoring, and a demanding evaluation process to ensure the demonstrated success of each skill covered in the training level. The peer-review certification process checks that the CRLA’s high standards are met for tutor selection, training, direct service, and evaluation as an integral part of the overall tutoring program.
“The CRLA’s International Tutor Training Program Certification is considered the gold standard in the field of learning support,” explained Lauren Humphries, the center’s director. “It confirms that our Academic Success Center meets internationally recognized high standards and rigorous training, allowing us to provide the highest quality support to students across the institution.”
It is rare for a community college to earn all three levels because of the time commitment required – it typically takes a minimum of 18 months for a tutor to achieve master level certification, Humphries noted. The center earned CRLA certification for basic and advanced levels in 2010, added the master level in 2015, and has been re-certified for all three levels every five years ever since then.
The Academic Success Center offers tutoring on each campus at Newtown, Perkasie and Bristol, as well as online. Last year, the center’s 80 tutors served nearly 2,200 students who made nearly 13,500 visits. "The team in the Academic Success Center is committed to excellence and the continuous improvement of the services we provide to students,” said Humphries. “We strive to provide top quality academic support, and this certification recognizes our efforts to remain a leader in the field of learning assistance."
Jacqueline Burger, dean of Learning Resources and Bucks Online, said this recognition affirms that Bucks students receive the highest quality academic assistance, and it highlights the center’s leadership within the field of learning support.
“I am so proud of the Academic Success Center team for earning this rare and prestigious renewal,” said Burger. “Achieving all three levels of CRLA certification demonstrates their exceptional commitment to excellence in tutor training and student support.”
For more than thirty years, CRLA has been a leader in learning assistance, reading, and academic support programs with almost 1,300 members and over 2,000 certified training programs worldwide.
The CRLA certification is another example of the high-quality education available at Bucks County Community College, which opened its doors as an open-admission public college 60 years ago this month and is consistently ranked as one of the top community colleges in the state.
Photo: Jacqueline Burger, Bucks County Community College’s dean of Learning Resources and Bucks Online, is shown with Lauren Humphries, director of the Academic Success Center, and Abigail Aldrich, assistant director, at the center’s Newtown Campus location. The center has recently retained the highest level of tutor training certification from the internationally recognized College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA). (PHOTO CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College).
