Nearly a half-century since its formation, Lehigh Carbon Community College continues to get bigger and better.

Current trends and future plans for LCCC were discussed with members of the Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce and Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation at a joint event hosted recently at its Jim Thorpe campus."We are seeing more and more economic growth," Tony Iannelli, President/CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber, said. "We're in this together."Lehigh Carbon Community College President Dr. Ann Bieber said that partnerships LCCC has formed with communities are what have made it as successful as it is.Bieber said Carbon County has been an instrumental party in the formation of LCCC.She said LCCC has been exploring options to find a permanent location in Carbon County. Once a future site is located, a group will be formed to look at the layout, Bieber said.In the meantime, Bieber said LCCC has had its lease at its Jim Thorpe campus extended until Dec. 2017.Dr. David Lapinsky, Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Initiatives at LCCC Jim Thorpe, gave an overview of LCCC and its academic services.Partnerships were discussed."It's really, really working," Thomas Lesisko, principal of Jim Thorpe Area High School, said."I will hate to see you leave; I hope you stay in Jim Thorpe."Dave Reinbold, Executive Director, Carbon Career & Technical Institute, added, "I believe LCCC has an excellent partnership with CCTI."Jennifer Aquila, Director of High School Connections, discussed dual enrollment.College creditAquila said dual enrollment is a partnership between LCCC and the sponsoring school districts in which students take one class and earn credit both at the high school and college level.Students can use credits toward their degree completion at LCCC, said Aquila, who added that students can transfer their credits to another university or college.Dual agreements exist with CCTI, Jim Thorpe High School, Lehighton High School, Palmerton High School, and Panther Valley High School, she said.This spring, 164 students will participate in dual enrollment, Aquila said.Aquila discussed articulation agreements, whereby LCCC partners with career and technical centers to offer students who successfully complete their program of study an opportunity to earn advanced standing credits in a similar LCCC degree program.Students will be awarded credit for introduction courses, said Aquila, who added that it saves time and money.At present, LCCC has 15 agreements between programs with CCTI.Timothy Herrlinger, LCCC Executive Director of the Foundation, discussed scholarships that are available to students, while Thomas Bux, Director, Center for Leadership and Workforce Development, discussed workforce development.The Center for Leadership and Workforce Development provides customized workforce training for over 30 companies in the Lehigh Valley.It also provides training for over 800 workers in the area in a wide range of industries, as well as open-enrolled courses for incumbent workers such as project management, business analysis, leadership and management, and Disc and Five Behaviors Assessments.More information can be found at

workforce@lccc.edu.Early educationRachel Strucko, director of the SHINE program, said the program's mission and goals are to improve academic performance, improve student behavior and attendance, increase STEM/CTE knowledge and careers of the future, and to facilitate family involvement in student learning.Strucko mentioned SHINE's early warning system, which tracks early warning strategies and prevention strategies.