Tower Winter/Spring 2024 - 5

Students often volunteer in the
community to use their skills.
Thaddeus Stevens College's mission is to prepare
students for skilled employment in an ever-changing
workforce. As the workforce changes, education must
change, too. Dr. Antonio Jackson, Vice President of
Academic Affairs at the College, has observed more
high school graduates pursuing alternative paths to
continuing their education and crafting viable careers
outside of the traditional four-year university model.
" Students are starting to see that the pathway to success
is not always a four-year degree. And not just students,
but parents as well, " Antonio said. He noted many
students are choosing to take a gap year between high
school and college, deciding to forego higher education
altogether and directly enter the workforce, or choosing
to enroll in a two-year technical or trade program
when they recognize they might have a higher earning
potential with a lower investment of time and money.
He described the College's mission as making
higher education accessible to those who have
been underrepresented or didn't think they would
have the opportunity. " It aligns with the work of the
man Thaddeus Stevens himself, " Antonio said.
As its programs and enrollment continue to expand,
Thaddeus Stevens College has hired additional faculty
instructors as well as adjusted existing faculty member
responsibilities to meet the needs. Tim Headings,
an instructor in the Computer & Network Systems
Administration degree, has taught at the College
for seven years and took on more responsibility by
helping facilitate the expansion of the program.
" Students have a lot of possibilities, " Tim said,
commenting that he has seen graduates go on
to earn their Bachelor of Science degrees at
four-year universities or enter the workforce
and achieve supervisor or managerial positions
within their first five years of employment.
Chuck Dixon, second-year Residential
Remodeling Technology student
Thaddeus Stevens College : 4
Tower Winter/Spring 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tower Winter/Spring 2024
