Who We Are

Northampton Community College is a comprehensive, student-oriented public two-year college. Since 1967, the College has helped people achieve their academic goals, regardless of their age, background, or financial ability. NCC proudly offers nearly 100 academic programs of study including both transfer and career curricula. The College also offers a wide variety of developmental courses and programs for personal enrichment and professional development. These courses are delivered in day, evening, weekend, television, internet, distance, and at-home formats. NCC also provides student services such as lifetime job placement assistance, child care, and financial aid.

Accreditation and Support

Northampton is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is approved and registered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The College is authorized to award the associate in arts, associate in science, and associate in applied science degrees. Northampton is sponsored by Bangor Area, Bethlehem Area, Easton Area, Nazareth Area, Northampton Area, Pen Argyl Area, Saucon Valley, and Wilson Area school districts.

Position Statement on Diversity

To emphasize the importance of diversity in education and our lives, Northhampton Community College strives to:

• Provide equal opportunity and access to higher education and to recruit and retain a student body, faculty, and staff which are representative of our community.
• Promote a campus climate where tolerance, respect, and appreciation for differences are priorities and where individuals of diverse backgrounds peacefully coexist, free from the consequences of prejudice and bigotry.
• Integrate multicultural and diverse perspectives appropriately throughout the curricula.
• Ensure that services, organizational structures, and institutional policies address the needs of our diverse constituencies.

Northampton Community College is committed to educating individuals of all backgrounds who can strengthen the economic and social infrastructure of our nation and the world.

The College community is united in the condemnation of acts of hatred and intolerance.

Our Continuing Commitment to Diversity

During the 2004/05 academic year, the College developed a three year strategic plan for inclusion/diversity activities. The plan focuses on three major areas: Faculty and Staff Recruitment and Retention, Student Recruitment and Retention, and Institutional Commitment. Work continues on these important initiatives, and our continuing commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in all of our efforts — both in and out of the classroom.

Student Body

Each year, approximately 25,000 people attend credit and non-credit classes at the College; over 9,000 are credit students. More than half of credit students are traditional college-age; over 40% attend on a full-time basis.

Students are enrolled from 47 counties outside Northampton County, 22 states outside Pennsylvania and 39 countries outside the United States. Minority students make up 18% of the student population.

Faculty

Northampton's faculty are credentialed professionals who bring knowledge and experience to the classroom. Individualized instruction and guidance is ensured by a ratio of one professor to every 22 students.

Locations

Bethlehem: Northampton's 165-acre Main Campus is located in Bethlehem Township and provides a complete array of modern facilities for classroom, laboratory, athletic, and conference use. Housing is available on campus for out-of-county students.

Monroe County Branch Campus: Since 1988, residents of Monroe County have been able to take a variety of credit classes in the day and evening as well as non-credit classes and seminars. Essential services such as on-site registration, placement testing, advising, computer labs, bookstore, childcare, and library facilities are all available in the facility located in Tannersville.

NCC's new Southside Bethlehem center provides literacy training and planning is underway to serve the Southside community with a full array of credit and non-credit classes.

Lehigh Valley Industrial Park: Located in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park IV, between routes 191 and 512, this is a 16,000 square-foot facility that houses technical training facilities, including welding, electrical and mechanical maintenance, and HVAC labs.

Fountain Court, located in Bartonsville, is an additional site for community education classes, as well as adult basic training and ESL services.

The Tobyhanna Corporate Center is the site for Northampton's truck driver training program.

Post-Graduation Activities

NCC's placement rate is consistently over 90 percent, indicating that graduates are well prepared to meet their employment and educational goals after graduation. In addition, the College offers graduates lifetime assistance with their job searches through the Alumni Association.

Special Learning Programs

• Tech Prep program involving high school students, teachers, counselors, and NCC faculty
• English as a Second Language (ESL) courses
• Adult literacy, Adult Basic Education, ESL, Work Force, Basic Skills, GED courses offered at locations in Northampton, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne Counties
• Distance learning (Tele-web courses, Internet Courses, Telecourses, College at Home Program)
• International initiatives, study/travel abroad

Services For Students

• Free tutoring, academic advising, career planning, and personal counseling
• Act 101: program for students with special needs that provides experience in educational, economic, cultural and/or linguistic areas
• Almost 50 student clubs and organizations
• Comprehensive academic laboratories and library
• Financial aid assistance, including a Work/Study program
• Campus housing for out-of-county students
• Access to the Internet and to more than 1000 personal computers
• Intercollegiate and intramural sports
• Services for people with disabilities
• Extensive athletic facilities and Fitness Center
• Special programs and events including career workshops,nationally renowned speakers, theatre, and music
• Career Services: provides job search assistance, career testing, counseling, and resume writing assistance

Community Education

The Division of Community Education is dedicated to providing educational and training services to meet any learning needs anywhere in the community. Our programs and services include:

• Quality of life programs - These are avocational and recreational courses intended to advance the skills and knowledge of individuals and families in such areas as health and fitness, cooking and entertainment, gardening and crafts, and dozens of other learning areas.
• Youth programs - The Horizons for Youth program provides safe, fun and educationally rich experiences for children ages five through 15. Occupational/Professional programs - These noncredit programs are designed to prepare individuals for a new career or advancement in a current career. From Industrial Automation Maintenance to Dietary Technician Management to professional truck driving to Early Childhood Educator, the division offers over 20 occupational programs focused on specific occupational opportunities in our region.
• Business training - The Center for Business and Industry offers extensive training and professional development for employers throughout the region. Services can be customized to meet the specific needs of an employer for technical, supervisory, customer service, and workplace literacy training.
• Executive and management development - Xploring and the Learning Connection are the division's newest programs and provide world-class executive leadership development as well as management training for people throughout any organization.
• Advanced technology - The National Training Center for Microelectronics and the Electrotechnology Applications Center both are the only programs of their kind on any community college campus in the world. They provide advanced technology training and consulting services to manufacturers.
• Adult literacy - NCC is the region's largest provider of Basic Adult Education including literacy, English as a second language and GED preparation

Partnerships and Community Involvement

• The Workforce and Economic Development Network of PA (WEDNet of PA): Partnership with 34 other community colleges and state universities to provide workforce training funds and services to area manufacturers and technology companies.
• Advanced placement agreements with the Bethlehem Area and Monroe County Area Vocational Technical Schools and the Career Institute of Technology for qualified students.
• Chrysler Motors Corp. and General Motors: Cooperative effort to create specialized automotive education programs Agreements with local four-year institutions, colleges and universities, allowing easy credit transfer for students, including on-line bachelor's degrees
• Industry/Faculty Loan Program allows faculty members to spend a semester in a local industry or institution
• Northeast Tier Ben Franklin Technology Center partnership
• Siemens Industrial Automation, Inc. training partnership
• Team PA: Careerlink partner in the Lehigh Valley, Monroe County and Pocono Region

Phone Numbers

General Information — 610/861-5300
Admissions Office — 610/861-5500
Monroe Campus — 570/620-9221
Registration Information
    Credit — 610/861-5494
    Non-credit — 610/861-5490
Center for Adult Learning — toll-free 1-877/543-0998
CBI — toll-free 1-877/543-0998
ETAC — 610/861-5081

Northampton Community College is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity among its students, faculty, and staff. Affirmative Action Officer Helene M. Whitaker, 610/861-5300 or TDD 610/861-5575.