Keystone College

Last updated
Keystone College
KCLogo.png
Former names
Keystone Academy (1868–1934)
Scranton-Keystone Junior College (1934–1944)
Keystone Junior College (1944–1995)
MottoProgress Through Effort
Type Private college
Established1868;156 years ago (1868) (as academy)
1934;90 years ago (1934) (as college)
Endowment $8 million
President John F. Pullo, Sr.
Location
La Plume and Factoryville
,
Pennsylvania
,
United States
Campus276 acres (112 ha)
Colors Blue and orange
Nickname Giants
Website keystone.edu

Keystone College is a private college in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States.

Contents

Although the college's official mailing address is La Plume, Pennsylvania in Lackawanna County, much of the campus is in Factoryville in Wyoming County. It was founded in 1868 and enrolls approximately 1,200 students in around 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. In May 2024, following over a decade of enrollment and revenue decreases, the college' accreditor, by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), issued the college a "show-cause order" requiring the college to prove compliance with its accreditation standards by August 1 or have its accreditation withdrawn. [1]

History

Keystone Academy was founded in 1868 by John Howard Harris. The academy was originally chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1868, with instruction beginning the following year in the local Baptist church in Factoryville. At the time it was chartered, Keystone Academy was the only high school between Binghamton, New York and Scranton, Pennsylvania. Louis Arthur Watres was a longtime trustee of Keystone Military Academy, and was one of the leaders who transformed the school into Scranton-Keystone Junior College in 1934. [2] Laurence Hawley Watres succeeded his father as a trustee, and remained on the board until 1962, when he was designated a trustee emeritus. [2] In 1944, the name was shortened to Keystone Junior College. The current name Keystone College was adopted in 1995.

In 1998, the school received formal approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to offer baccalaureate degree programs. A monumental step in Keystone's history and a signal of the college's continued progress, Keystone received approval to offer master's degrees in 2014. [3]

In the 2010s and 2020s, the college experienced significant drops in enrollment and revenue. In 2012 the college enrolled 1,683 students but a decade later it enrolled 1,131 students.

In early 2024, the college explored a merger with the Washington Institute for Education and Research (WIER), a Washington, D.C. non-profit organization, but the deal fell apart. Shortly thereafter, the college's accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), issued the college a "show-cause order," requiring the college to prove compliance with its accreditation standards by August 1 or have its accreditation withdrawn. The college has already provided MSCHE with a teach-out plan that described how students can complete their degree programs if the college closes. [1] On June 25, 2024, the college laid off 29 faculty and staff and closed three programs with low enrollments. [4] In August 2024, the college announced it had signed a merger agreement with the Washington Institute for Education and Research, whereby Keystone would become a subsidiary of WIER. [5] [6]

Campus

Sickler Hall Sickler Hall Keystone College Factoryville PA.jpg
Sickler Hall

Keystone's scenic 276-acre (1.1 km2) campus, located at the gateway to the Endless Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, features hiking trails and a freshwater stream. The campus is 15 miles northwest of Scranton on U.S. Routes 6 and 11, and is located in both Lackawanna and Wyoming counties.

Woodlands Campus

Keystone's 170-acre Woodlands Campus features approximately seven miles of hiking trails that are open to students and the public seven days a week from dawn until dusk. [7]

Academics

Keystone College offers more than 50 degree options at the undergraduate and graduate levels in several academic programs within two schools. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Athletics

Keystone's 16 teams compete in the United East Conference as a Division III school under the NCAA. Teams are known as the Giants in honor of the professional baseball team that alumnus Christy Mathewson played for.

Men's teams

Women's teams

Publications

The Key is the student newspaper. The Keystonian is the college magazine for alumni and friends.

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bucknell University</span> Private college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Bucknell University is a private liberal-arts college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1846 as the University at Lewisburg, it now consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Freeman College of Management, and the College of Engineering. It offers 65 majors and 70 minors in the sciences and humanities. Located just south of Lewisburg, the 445-acre (1.80 km2) campus rises above the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnson University Florida</span> Private Christian university in Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.

Johnson University Florida was a private Christian university in Kissimmee, Florida. It was part of the Johnson University system with its main campus outside Knoxville, Tennessee, and an online campus. It was affiliated with the Independent Christian Church of the Restoration Movement. The campus was closed in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancaster Bible College</span> Private college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Lancaster Bible College, officially named Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School and shortened to LBC | Capital, is a private Bible college, seminary, and graduate school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Alliance University was a private Christian university affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Located in New York, New York, the university offered undergraduate and graduate programs; in addition, it included Alliance Theological Seminary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's College (New York City)</span> Christian liberal arts college

The King's College is a private non-denominational Christian liberal arts college in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sussex County Community College</span> Public college in Newton, New Jersey, US

Sussex County Community College (SCCC) is a public community college in the town of Newton in Sussex County, New Jersey. It is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and several of its programs are further accredited or approved by state government agencies and national occupational standards associations.

Allegany College of Maryland is a public community college in Cumberland, Maryland. It was previously known as Allegany Community College. The college was founded in 1961 and is accredited by the Middle State Commission on Higher Education. The college offers 31 two-year degree programs, 30 certificate programs, and 10 letters of recognitions. The college also has campuses and extension sites in Cumberland, Maryland; Everett, Pennsylvania; Oakland, Maryland; Somerset, Pennsylvania; and LaVale, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lackawanna College</span> Private college in Scranton, Pennsylvania, US

Lackawanna College is a private college in Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. It also has satellite centers in Hazleton, Hawley, Sunbury, Towanda, and Tunkhannock, and an Environmental Education Center in Covington Township.

Clarks Summit University was a private Baptist Bible college in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania that offered associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees as well as a high-school dual enrollment option. Besides offering degrees on campus, it also offered undergraduate and graduate degrees online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurence H. Watres</span> American politician

Laurence Hawley Watres was an attorney and politician from Scranton, Pennsylvania. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1923 to 1931.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosemont College</span> Catholic college in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, US

Rosemont College is a private Catholic university in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1921 as a women's college by the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, the undergraduate program opened to male students beginning in fall 2009. The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Rosemont also offers a range of master's degrees through its school of graduate studies and school of professional studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peirce College</span> Private college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Peirce College is a private college in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It focuses on adult education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Valley Forge</span> Private university in Pennsylvania, US

The University of Valley Forge (UVF) is a private university near Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and 8.8 miles (14.2 km) from Valley Forge National Historical Park. It is affiliated with the Assemblies of God USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine</span> Private medical school in Erie, Pennsylvania, US

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is a private medical school and academic health center in Erie, Pennsylvania. LECOM has a Branch Campus in Bradenton, Florida and additional locations in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and Elmira, New York. Founded in 1992, LECOM confers medical (D.O.), dental (DMD), podiatry (DPM), pharmacy (PharmD) degrees, as well as masters and doctoral degrees in the health sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hodges University</span> Private university in Florida

Hodges University was a private university in Fort Myers, Florida, United States. Founded in 1990 in Naples as International College, it was renamed Hodges University in 2007 in recognition of a $12 million donation from local residents Earl and Thelma Hodges. In August 2023, citing declining enrollment and ensuing financial challenges, Hodges University announced plans to close permanently by the end of August 2024. The final day of classes was on August 25, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waynesburg University</span> Private university in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Waynesburg University is a private Christian university in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1850 and offers undergraduate and graduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. The university enrolls around 1,400 students, including approximately 1,100 undergraduates.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) is a private medical school associated with the Geisinger Health System in northeastern and north central Pennsylvania. GCSOM offers a community-based model of medical education with six regional campuses: North, South, Central, West, Atlanticare, and Guthrie. It offers a Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program and a Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) Program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slippery Rock University</span> Public university in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, US

Slippery Rock University, formally Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, is a public university in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. SRU is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). The university has been coeducational since its founding in 1889. SRU is fully accredited by the Middle State Commission on Higher Learning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASA College</span> College in New York and Florida, U.S.

ASA College was a private for-profit college in New York City and Hialeah, Florida. The college had three campuses: Midtown Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn in New York, and Hialeah in Florida. It offered associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and professional certificates in the divisions of business administration, health disciplines, legal studies, and computer technology. Although it was accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, that accreditation was removed in 2023 as the college failed to meet several of the commission's standards. The institution closed on March 1, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittsburgh Technical College</span> Private college in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC) was a private college in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The college, formerly Pittsburgh Technical Institute, which opened in 1946 and closed in 2024, had more than 30 career-focused programs in ten schools. Bachelor's and associate degrees are awarded, in addition to certificate programs.

References

  1. 1 2 Spitalniak, Laura (May 3, 2024). "Keystone College in 'danger of imminent closure,' accreditor says". Higher Ed Dive . Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Col. L. H. Watres, 82, Hero of WW1, Is Dead". Scranton Times . Scranton, PA. February 7, 1964. pp. 3, 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Keystone to offer master's degrees for the first time in history". Keystone College. 2014-10-08. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
  4. ↑ WRITER, JIM LOCKWOOD STAFF (2024-06-25). "Keystone College cuts 29 faculty/staff positions, closes three low-enrollment programs". Scranton Times-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  5. ↑ Kelly, Chrisann (2024-08-16). "Keystone College Announces Signed Merger Agreement". Keystone College. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  6. ↑ "Keystone College agrees to merge with D.C.-based nonprofit". Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  7. ↑ "Trolley Trail Dedication". Keystone College. 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2019-06-07.

41°33′32″N75°46′30″W / 41.559°N 75.775°W / 41.559; -75.775

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.