Erie County Community College
| Type | Public community college |
|---|---|
| President | Chris Gray |
| Location | , , United States |
| Website | www.ec3pa.edu |
Erie County Community College is a public community college in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Locals in Erie County established a nonprofit called Empower Erie in 2016 to explore the possibility of opening a community college in the region. The group included co-founder Ron DiNicola, who would eventually serve as the first Chair of the Board of Trustees, and advocated for this goal for about seven years.[1] The college, nicknamed EC3, opened in Fall 2021 with 231 students using rented classrooms in a private high school.[2] While the college waited for the results of its accreditation application, students who were residents in Erie County received free tuition thanks to federal COVID relief funds.[3]
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education acknowledged the institution's application for accreditation in November 2024 in anticipation of an on-site evaluation in the 2026-2027 academic year.[4]
References
- ^ Rao, A. J. "Ron DiNicola, longtime advocate of Erie County Community College, to step down from board of trustees". Erie Times-News. July 28, 2022.
- ^ Weissman, Sara. "A New Community College Sees Growth and Challenges", Insider Higher Ed, October 10, 2024.
- ^ Myers, Valerie. "Erie County Community College, now a year old, has been 'a blessing' for students". Erie Times-News. August 22, 2022.
- ^ "Accreditation". Erie County Community College. Retrieved September 18, 2025.