The following post was contributed by Sue Gumble, Program Director for the Lackawanna College School of Petroleum & Natural Gas. She also teaches Introductory to Natural Gas classes at the Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center.
The Lackawanna College School of Petroleum & Natural Gas, which opened in Susquehanna County in 2010, will be relocating to Tunkhannock in Wyoming County beginning the fall semester of 2021. Renovations are underway at a former supermarket for a facility that will more than double the school’s current classroom size.
“The new facility, including a state-of-the art laboratory and industry equipment, will enable growth unavailable at our current site,” said Lackawanna College president Jill Murray.
As enrollment at the school climbed, so too did the need to diversify the curriculum and offer more courses, and we have outgrown our current space in New Milford. The lab at the school will expand from approximately 2,000 to 5,000 square feet.
Equipment currently stored outside will be taken inside for dismantling and reassembly, allowing for more hands-on training for students. Compressed air lines can be hooked up to the machinery to demonstrate functionality. If a piece doesn’t work, students will have an opportunity for trouble-shooting.
School administrators also feel that Tunkhannock is more centralized to the students we want to attract. The move will make us equally accessible to students in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, as well as Bradford, Sullivan and Susquehanna. Plus, it’s so close to where most of the industry is, including Cabot, Southwestern (SWN) and Williams, that it will be easier to get industry people in to lecture.”
“This is good news for the natural gas industry as the School of PNG has been key in providing Southwestern Energy with trained interns and employees,” said Mike Narcavage, senior government and community relations manager for SWN. “Southwestern Energy is a strong supporter of the school, and we anticipate that to continue into the future.”
“We are thrilled to see how much the School of PNG has grown and matured in the past six years,” said George Stark. “Lackawanna College has become an educational force in Northeast PA, and we know this move will give them the opportunity to expand both their physical presence as well as their programs and offerings.”
The two-year program maintains a balance between book work, hands-on lab time, field trips to gas-related facilities and internships with our industry partners. Our curriculum is constantly evolving to keep up with technical advances in the gas industry. Companies from as far away as Illinois and Kentucky have been contacting the school for freshly-trained employees.
“Lackawanna College is beyond proud of the exceptional education our School of PNG provides to help individuals obtain quality jobs in the petroleum and natural gas industry. The move to Tunkhannock will help us expand our training opportunities,” Murray stated. “We are also excited to extend our curriculum into new areas unrelated to the petroleum and natural gas industry, such as business and human services.” Lackawanna College also offers flexibility with both in-person and online classes.
For more information about Lackawanna College’s PNG program, visit their website here.
