More dual enrollment classes for high school students, additional course offerings and partnerships with local employers were all promoted Tuesday at a legislative roundtable on the future of Penn State Hazleton.

State Sen. David Argall, R-29, Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-27, and Rep. Dane Watro, R-116, and Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-117, organized the discussion to focus on the growth of the campus after it was saved from closure earlier this year.

“Just a few months ago, the Hazleton community united to save this campus,” said Argall, whose district includes all of Carbon and Schuylkill counties, and part of Luzerne County. “But our work is not done — far from it. Today’s discussion helped build a road map for how Penn State Hazleton can thrive and benefit students and employers for decades to come.”

Culver said that the commonwealth campus is an important part of the community’s future.

“Our focus now is making sure the campus remains strong by preparing students for the workforce and meeting the needs of local employers,” Culver said. “With continued collaboration and support, we can help ensure this campus remains a place of opportunity for both students and the region it serves.”

Watro said Penn State Hazleton has been providing quality, affordable and accessible higher education for years.

“This meeting was the beginning of what will be an ongoing conversation about finding ways to help this great institution continue to serve and enhance our communities, such as offering more educational options in high-demand fields, creating more opportunities for high school students to take college courses or facilitating relationships between employers and the university to address future regional employee needs,” Watro said.

Walsh called the roundtable “highly productive.”

“There were a lot of great ideas shared about how we can improve the educational opportunities at the campus and keep Penn State Hazelton relevant for both students and employers,” Walsh said. “I appreciate everyone’s participation in the meeting and encouraged continued dialogue and follow through on these ideas.”

Alex Neyhart, a student at Penn State Hazleton, said that expanding degrees in high-demand fields would encourage more students to attend the campus.

He cited the serious need for more teachers, nurses and tradesmen. He also discussed how the student body reacted to the upheaval, stating that many breathed a “sigh of relief” when the campus was saved.

Dr. Brian Uplinger, the Hazleton Area School District superintendent, discussed how the district is one of the fastest growing in the state. He called for the creation of an early college academy, a dual enrollment program that would allow students to graduate from high school with 30 college credits.

He also discussed the need for creating pathways to guide students towards degrees in teaching, cybersecurity, health sciences, engineering and business.

Dr. Anthony Conston, the principal of Hazleton Area High School, emphasized the importance of community outreach to share details of scholarships and other financial aid options for families considering higher education.

Mary Malone, the president of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, pointed to the need for campus faculty and staff to engage in a deeper way with the wider community. She noted that 15,000 people come to work in the Hazleton area and that employers are always looking for future employees, creating opportunities for internships and other collaborations.

Bob Curry, the founding president of the Hazleton Integration Project, discussed a plan to develop nursing degrees at Penn State Hazleton to address the health care shortages affecting communities across the region.

A recording of the full roundtable is available on Argall’s website, www.senatorargall.com.