Titusville Hub moving forward with planned August debut

Broadhurst Science Center

The new Pitt­–Titusville Education and Training Hub is set to open as planned in August, even though renovations at the Broadhurst Science Center have been put on hold by the University.

Many construction projects throughout Pitt’s five campuses have been slowed as the University looks at how to absorb losses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Despite the hold on this renovation project, we are enthusiastically moving ahead with the launch of the Education and Training Hub in August,” Catherine Koverola, president of the Titusville and Bradford campuses, said in a news release. “We will continue to work with our hub partners to prepare the programs residents in the region need and recruit students to these programs.”

Koverola also announced some staffing changes at Pitt­–Titusville this week. Karen Enos, who has been serving as the hub’s first interim executive director, is scheduled to step down in May. At that time, David Fitz, who has served as Pitt–Titusville’s campus dean for several years, will assume the role as interim executive director.

Stephanie Fiely — who has worked at Pitt-Titusville since 1999, most recently as the campus’s director of student life — will serve as the hub’s assistant director. Wes Eastin started April 16 as communications and marketing coordinator.

The hub is composed of three partners — Pitt, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College and Manchester Bidwell Corp.

Pitt will offer an associate of science in nursing program as well as replicate its Manufacturing Assistance Center with comprehensive precision machinist training programs.

Northern Pennsylvania Regional College will provide the general education courses for nursing student and offer selections from its associate degree programs based on local needs. Manchester Bidwell Corp. will establish a Workforce and Opportunity Center for adults and initially offer clinical and clerical medical assistant programs as well as youth arts programming with an emphasis on ceramics.

Additionally, hub officials are working with the German American Chamber of Commerce to develop apprenticeship opportunities in the area.

The renovations at the Broadhurst Science Center had been scheduled to begin in May and conclude in August.

“As soon as we are able to start these renovations, we will,” Koverola said.

— Susan Jones

 

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