Pennsylvania College of Technology tells panel it places 98% of grads into skilled trades

Dr. Michael Reed, president of Pennsylvania College of Technology, told lawmakers that applied-technology institutions like his provide durable skills employers need and that employers recruit students well before graduation. He said Penn College educates roughly 10,000 students annually across degree, certificate and apprenticeship programs and achieves a 98% placement rate, with starting salaries "between $65,000 and $70,000."

Reed emphasized the high fixed and operating costs of effective technical education: Penn College operates more than 150 labs on a 515-acre campus and he estimated ongoing operational costs in the order of $150,000,000 per year to keep facilities current. He urged Congress to invest in proven institutions and programs — equipment, faculty compensation, apprenticeships and short-term credentialing — and highlighted wait lists for popular programs as evidence of unmet demand.

Members and Reed discussed recruitment of faculty with industry experience; Reed noted most faculty have industry backgrounds and suggested a suite of incentives—competitive salaries, partner-funded equipment and family-oriented benefits—to encourage practitioners to teach.