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BCCC Receives $400K to Build Healthcare Pipeline Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Officials at Bucks County Community College are proud to announce that the College has been awarded $400,000 through the PA Department of Labor and Industry to develop and implement a new Healthcare Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
Bucks will partner with Drexel University, District 1199C, Bucks County Workforce and Economic Development Board, regional hospitals, and local medical practices to create a career-aligned registered pre-apprenticeship program. Bucks will provide free training and job placement services for two inaugural cohorts, graduating 24 pre-apprentices over the next year and a half. Graduates of the 12-week pre-apprenticeship program will receive recognized certifications in EKG tech, certified phlebotomy technician, CPR for healthcare providers, mental health first aid for fire/EMS, and child abuse recognition and reporting training, as well as a college certificate of completion and a pre-apprenticeship certificate.
“We have received overwhelming support from the healthcare industry for this pre-apprenticeship program,” said Bucks President & CEO Patrick M. Jones. “Given the success of our pre-apprenticeships in other sectors, we are thrilled to be able to offer the education and training necessary for area residents to launch their allied health careers with jobs that are in high demand and pay family-sustaining wages.”
The PA Department of Labor and Industry grant will afford Bucks’ Center for Workforce Development the opportunity to venture further into the healthcare sector and build upon the success Bucks has had in building pre-apprenticeships in manufacturing and the building trades. The state funding will enable the College to have a greater reach in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region resulting in providing increased enrollment and pathways to high-paying jobs and apprenticeships that are in high demand.
The free 12-week career training programs will likely begin in early 2026 and be held Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the College’s Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT) on the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol. The CAT is a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility offering job seekers access to high-quality career training programs. Students will also have the opportunity to work with Drexel University, District 1199C, regional hospitals, employers, and apprenticeship programs in the industry.
For more information about this program, contact Associate Vice President for Workforce Development Susan Herring at 267-685-4827 or susan.herring@bucks.edu.
Bucks County Community College Announces Two New Deans
College officials have announced that Carolina Blatt, Ph.D. has been hired as Dean of Arts and Communication and Jacqueline Burger has been named the Dean of Learning Resources and Bucks Online Dean of Arts and Communication
Building on Bucks County Community College’s long history of leadership in the arts, Carolina Blatt, Ph.D. will join the College as the next Dean of Arts and Communication on June 2, 2025.
Blatt is an arts administrator, art educator, and scholar who seeks to catalyze the arts within and beyond the classroom. She currently serves as a Program Coordinator and Instructor of Art Education at Rowan University’s College of Communication & Creative Arts. Prior to Rowan, she taught the Interdisciplinary Seminar on Aesthetics, Creativity, and Narrative to Creative Arts Therapy doctoral students at Drexel University. Blatt was previously the Director and Professor of Art & Design Education at The University of the Arts, Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of Art Education at The College of New Jersey, and an Associate Professor of Visual & Performing Arts at Georgia Gwinnett College.
Blatt is a noted lecturer and presenter. Her research has been published in scholarly journals including Arts Education Policy Review, The Journal of Learning Through the Arts, and International Journal of Education & the Arts. In addition to numerous awards and grants, she received the Higher Education Award from the Art Educators of New Jersey in 2021 and is a member of the National Art Educators Association’s 2022 cohort of School for Arts Leaders.
Dr. Patrick M. Jones, President & CEO of Bucks County Community College said, “Dr. Blatt’s community-centric approach to arts and place-making, entrepreneurial spirit, and ability to inspire people artistically and with a vision for an arts-enriched future will help our students experience the world in authentic and organic ways that are not predetermined or prescribed.” Jones added, “I have no doubt that Dr. Blatt will help to build relationships and joint ventures with arts organizations, working artists, communities, and business leaders in order to advance the arts in the region.”
With a dynamic community of more than 50 artists and scholars on faculty, the College’s School of Arts and Communication is a hub and nexus of the regional arts ecosystem. Accredited by both the National Association of Schools of Art & Design and the National Association of Schools of Music, the School offers Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts, and Associate of Music degrees in 10 disciplines including art, dance, music, multimedia, theater arts, and communication, as well as certificates and community and youth programs.
"The School of Arts and Communication at Bucks is a local treasure. I am thrilled to steward its legacy of artistic and cultural vibrancy in the community and beyond."
Blatt earned her doctorate in Art Education from the University of Georgia, her Master of Arts in Art History from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and a Bachelor of Art in The History & Social Foundations of Art from Juniata College.
Dean of Learning Resources and Bucks Online
After an extensive search, College officials have also announced that Jacqueline Burger will assume the role of Dean of Learning Resources and Bucks Online effective July 1, 2025.
The Department of Learning Resources is home to the Academic Success Center, Bucks Online, Center for Personal & Professional Development, Libraries, and the Media Lab which features state-of-the-art virtual and augmented reality and 3-D printing resources. The Department also supports the College’s open educational resources (OER) which have saved Bucks students more than $1 million in the 2023-2024 academic year. Bucks Online offers 33 fully online programs, and support to all students and faculty in a variety of technologies including the College’s learning management system.
Burger, who possesses a strong entrepreneurial disposition, will play a crucial role in not only fostering innovation within an academic setting and collaboration within the College, but also cultivating relationships with universities, institutes, research centers, and corporations across the region in an era of rapid technological change.
Burger has been serving as the College’s Interim Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics since June 2024. She previously served as Associate Professor, Learning Technologies Liaison for 15 years, also at Bucks County Community College. She also has taught online computer science courses to first-year and guest students as well as a hybrid college orientation seminar to first-year students since 2014.
“Dean Burger has repeatedly demonstrated her capacity for driving innovation during her service at the College and has been nationally active as an educational innovator,” said President & CEO Patrick M. Jones. “Her creative thinking, intellectual curiosity, and systematic approach to problem solving will help the College navigate a rapidly changing technology landscape, evolving needs of learners, and changing modalities of literacy. With her leadership, the College will be at the forefront of educational innovation that supports student success.”
"I am excited to continue serving Bucks County Community College in a new capacity, bringing 15 years of experience to the role of Dean of Learning Resources and Bucks Online. I look forward to collaborating with an exceptional team dedicated to advancing our mission and enriching the student experience."
Burger has presented at the Middle States Commission for Higher Education Annual Conference, the Northeast Regional Computing Program Conference, and EDUCAUSE’s ELI Annual Conference, a premier event for higher education teaching and learning professionals covering a range of topics including efficient institutional self-appraisal, strategic partnership and leadership team models, and creative faculty collaborations for information and digital media literacy programs.
Burger earned a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design from University of Wisconsin-Stout, a Master of Science degree in Library and Information Science from Drexel University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Dickinson College.
Two BCCC Students Named to All-PA Academic Team
Jessica Waterstradt of Quakertown and Adrian Tyrk of Morrisville, both class of 2025, were selected for their academic achievement and service to the community Two Bucks County Community College students have been named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team by the Pennsylvania Association for Community Colleges. Jessica Waterstradt, a social science major from Quakertown, and Adrian Tyrk, a chemistry major from Morrisville, were congratulated by Dr. Patrick M. Jones, President & CEO of the College. The members of the Class of 2025 were selected for their high academic achievements – each has a GPA of 3.5 or higher – and their service to the College and the community. The recognition includes a two-year tuition waiver at any one of the 10 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Jessica Waterstradt is congratulated by Dr. Patrick M. Jones, President & CEO of Bucks County Community College, after she was named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team by the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. The Quakertown resident, who is graduating in May with an associate degree in social science, plans to transfer to Kutztown University and hopes to eventually work with a nonprofit or in politics in order to achieve her lifelong dream of helping others.
Adrian Tyrk is congratulated by Dr. Patrick M. Jones, President & CEO of Bucks County Community College, after he was named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team by the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. The Morrisville resident, who is graduating in May with an associate degree in chemistry, plans to transfer to an Ivy League university to study biochemistry and molecular biology.
BCCC Expands Dual Credit for High School Students with $1M State Grant
Bucks County Community College has received a $1 million Dual Credit Innovation Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to enable more high school students to enroll in dual credit programs, giving them more opportunities to chart their own course and prepare for successful careers.
Bucks County Community College is pleased to announce the establishment of the Bucks County College Access Network (Bucks CAN) with this support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This initiative is a collaborative partnership between Bucks County Community College (BCCC), the 13 public school districts of Bucks County, the three Bucks County technical high schools, and the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22. Bucks CAN is dedicated to expanding dual credit enrollment across Bucks County by increasing access to opportunities to help students shorten the time required to complete a college degree and reduce the financial burden associated with higher education. Bucks CAN offerings will include a diverse range of dual credit courses offered on Bucks County Community College's three campuses in Bristol, Newtown, and Perkasie, through Bucks Online, and in the high schools.
BCCC President & CEO Patrick M. Jones said, “The Bucks County College Access Network will allow academically qualified high school students to take college-level courses while still enrolled in high school to enable them to get a jump start on their collegiate education, while saving a substantial amount of money on college tuition.” Jones added, “Bucks CAN will bring high school teachers and college professors together in a county-wide network to ensure students from every community of Bucks County have access to higher education, and the grant will remove or reduce financial barriers faced by many families.”
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, dual credit offerings improve academic achievement, high school graduation rates, college enrollment, and college completion rates.
Bucks Lights a Spark for Tween Girls
“Girls Ignite Trades” drew dozens to the Center for Advanced Technologies to introduce middle schoolers to carpentry, firefighting, welding, and more Bucks County Community College recently welcomed five dozen Bristol Township middle school girls to its Center for Advanced Technologies in Bristol to introduce them to building trades and other careers. “Girls Ignite Trades,” an annual event in partnership with the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council, aims to break barriers by helping young students explore career options that challenge stereotypes. The 7th- and 8th-graders from Armstrong and Franklin Middle Schools took part in hands-on projects like carpentry and welding, while connecting with mentors and industry experts. To learn more about these training options, visit the Workforce Development division.
Bucks County Community College President & CEO Dr. Patrick M. Jones (rear, third from right) joined James Keenan, Business Representative from Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, in showing Bristol Township middle school girls career skills at “Girls Ignite Trades.” The annual event at the Center for Advanced Technologies on the College’s Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks aims to introduce girls to careers that challenge stereotypes.
Middle school girls from the Bristol Township School District try firefighting on for size at Bucks County Community College’s “Girls Ignite Trades,” an annual event to introduce girls to careers that break stereotypes. The event drew five dozen 7th- and 8th-graders from Armstrong and Franklin Middle Schools to the Center for Advanced Technologies on the College’s Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol.
Hands-on careers like carpentry were among those sampled by dozens of middle school girls at the annual “Girls Ignite Trades” expo at the Center for Advanced Technologies in Bristol. Bucks County Community College partnered with the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council for the annual event for students from the Bristol Township School District.
Dozens of Bristol Township middle schoolers attended the annual “Girls Ignite Trades” expo at Bucks County Community College to learn about career options that challenge stereotypes. The annual event took place at the College’s Center for Advanced Technologies in Bristol, in partnership with the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council.
Annual Lecture Celebrates 25 Years of Garden Restoration
Bucks County Community College, which was founded on a former baronial estate more than 60 years ago, invites the public to the 17th annual Tyler Formal Gardens & Landscaping Lecture at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26.
The keynote speaker will be John Vick, Executive Director of Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum in Bensalem Township. He will discuss how gardens and landscapes shape our understanding of the past and the role historic gardens play in building a happier, healthier future.
One of those historic gardens is right on the College’s Newtown Campus. The one-acre Tyler Formal Gardens were constructed in the early 1930s on the estate of George F. and Stella Elkins Tyler. Two hundred acres of the Tyler Estate later became the home of Bucks County Community College, which originally held classes in the mansion starting in 1965. In 1987, Tyler Hall and the Tyler Formal Gardens were placed on the National Register for Historic Places.
For the past 25 years, the gardens have been painstakingly restored to their original glory by the BCCC Foundation and the College’s Historic Preservation Program. Boxwoods, pear trees, irises and more have been planted based on original plans by Willing, Sims & Talbutt for the four-tiered, Italianate garden. The prestigious Philadelphia architectural firm also constructed the Tylers' mansion, service cottages, and support buildings.
At Andalusia, Vick oversees public site visits, ongoing preservation efforts, and research into more than two centuries of residency on the property and nearly 350 years of the Biddle family in America. Before coming to Andalusia in 2022, Vick worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for 13 years, curating and contributing to more than 20 exhibitions and books on diverse topics.
The lecture begins at 10 a.m. in the Zlock Performing Arts Center on the Newtown Campus, where there will also be an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to win garden accents for your garden. An exhibition by Bucks County artists, “Garden Glories,” sponsored by the Hicks Art Center Gallery, will be on display in the Zlock lobby.
Tours of the historic Tyler Formal Gardens will immediately follow. Students from the College’s dance program will perform “Movement Expression of Praise” in the formal gardens.
Tickets are $15 for the general public, $10 for veterans and BCCC alumni, and free for BCCC students with current ID. To register, complete the online form. For more information, contact foundation@bucks.edu or 215-968-8224.
All proceeds benefit the Stella Elkins Tyler Gardens Endowment and the Historic Preservation Program at Bucks. The College is located at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For a campus map and directions, visit the Newtown Campus page.
