Announcements
Invitation to October 20 MSCHE Preliminary Visit Open Session
Network Scheduled Maintenance Oct 3 4:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Honoring a Legacy of Generosity and Service
The Lehigh Carbon Community College Foundation is pleased to announce a new scholarship established through a legacy gift from Ken & Patti Mohr. This scholarship will benefit future students who graduate from Southern Lehigh School District and attend Lehigh Carbon Community College.
Through their thoughtful estate planning, Ken & Patti Mohr left a generous gift to the LCCC Foundation to establish a scholarship that will provide financial support to deserving students. This lasting contribution reflects their commitment to education and will create opportunities for students for generations to come.
Middle States August/September Update
The Middle States Planning Committee met throughout the months of July, August, and September to prepare and facilitate an impactful month of October featuring Development Day and the Middle States Team Chair Visit.
Composed of Steering Committee members, College Relations, the Spirit Committee, and Executive Assistant to the President Tracy Bean, the Planning Committee will be overseeing logistics for Middle States events through the 2026-2027 school year. Development Day on October 13 features speaker Dana Evans Amberge, Senior Consultant, Enrollment and Marketing at Paskill, and the October 20 Middle States Team Chair visit brings Dr. Brenden Rickards from Rowan College of South Jersey to LCCC.
During the meetings, Tri-Chair Betsy Swope reviewed the agendas for both Development Day and the Team Chair Visit. College Relations and the Spirit Committee reserved the necessary rooms, arranged the seating, and organized the catering for these events. To keep the campus community informed and engaged, the Communications Team created a plan for publicizing Development Day and the Team Chair Visit through LCCC portal announcements, as well as save-the-date reminders and “Stay in the Know” posts in the College Voice. Committee members discussed the tone of these events, aimed at boosting morale and inspiring participation from every college location.
Looking ahead, members of the Communications Team and the Leadership Team collaborated to prepare a stakeholder support plan for the Peer Review Team visit in March while creating a communications roadmap to keep everyone informed in the months to come.
Questions may be directed to MSCHE@lccc.edu.
Open Conversations With The President
Important Update: Changes to Course Materials and Textbooks
LCCC Development Day Trivia is Coming!
Development Day on Tuesday, October 13!
Designed for all college employees, the event will begin with morning refreshments, followed by an introduction and overview of Middle States Education, a guest speaker presentation, and interactive Spirit Committee activities.
In-person attendance is required for all faculty and staff during Development Day, as the college will be closed for the morning session, and a Zoom option will not be available. Main campus will be opening at 11:30 a.m. at the conclusion of the event and other sites will be opening at 12:30 p.m. There are no daytime or evening classes scheduled this day.
Employees unable to attend during the morning session must submit a leave request (to use accrued personal/vacation time) to their supervisor or dean.
- October 13, 2026 | CSC Ballroom, Schnecksville campus
- 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.: Morning Refreshments
- 8:30 – 9:10 a.m.: Dr. Bieber Introduction and Middle States Education
- 9:20 – 10:20 a.m.: Speaker, Dana Evans Amberge, Paskill
- 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.: Spirit Committee Interactive Activities
For any dietary restrictions, please send a message to events@lccc.edu with your restrictions and refer to “Development Day October 13, 2026.”
Join us for a morning dedicated to learning, collaboration, and celebrating our LCCC community in preparation for the October 20 MSCHE Team Chair Preliminary Visit of Dr. Brenden Rickards. Learn more about Dr. Rickards here.
For questions, please email MSCHE@lccc.edu.
Stay “In the Know” about Middle States!
Stay “In the Know” about Middle States!
Do you know the Seven Standards of Excellence at LCCC? Every week, check out College Voice to learn a new Standard and stay In the Know!
Standard VI: Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement
Evaluates whether institutional planning, financial resources, administrative infrastructure, and budgeting are closely integrated with strategic priorities. It ensures the institution maintains long-term financial stability, allocates resources effectively, and uses comprehensive data to drive institutional growth.
Free Food!
Cybersecurity Awareness Month — Help Us Catch the Phish: Reporting Suspicious Emails
Whenever you receive a suspicious email that might be a phishing attempt, we want to know about it!
To ensure our Cybersecurity team can investigate the threat, you must report it using the Phish Alert button (PAB) rather than the built-in report feature in Google. Using the correct phishing alert button sends the email directly to our ticketing system for analysis, helping us keep the organization safe.
For additional details, click here.
Put Your Middle States Knowledge to The Test
Every week, you will be given a question related to LCCC’s Mission, Vision, and/or Value statements to prepare you for our upcoming Middle States visit.
Answer at least one question correctly, and you will be entered into a drawing for a gift card prize! Winners will be randomly selected on Development Day, 10/13.
Note: You must be present at Development Day to receive a prize.
To answer this week’s question, please see the following Google Form.
New Resource: The AI Student Study Center
We know our students learn in diverse ways—some visually, others through self-testing. To support student success while promoting responsible technology use, we are excited to introduce the AI Student Study Center!
This center works hand in hand with our campus education center and tutoring services to give students a well-rounded, ethical, and effective study strategy.
What the AI Student Study Center Offers:
- Introductory Micro-trainings about AI Safety, Academic Ethics, and Study Techniques: Bite-sized videos teaching prompt engineering, spotting AI “hallucinations,” and techniques for studying. Students can earn badges to demonstrate their awareness of these skills.
- A Digital Library of 270+ Vetted AI Study Guides, reviewed by content experts for accuracy, covering a variety of English, Math, Chemistry, and Anatomy topics.
- Students can access the center via their portal under Student Resources or directly on the AI Student Study Center Website.
Feel free to share this resource with your students alongside our Education and Tutoring Center!
LASSI Scores Predict Student Persistence
A new analysis of 356 LCCC students shows a direct link between LASSI assessment scores and college persistence (graduating, transferring, or staying enrolled).
Students who persisted scored significantly higher in Motivation (M = 52.5) compared to those who did not (M = 44.1). Because highly motivated students are less likely to give up on challenging tasks or put minimal effort into uninteresting coursework, retention efforts should focus on helping students build motivation.
Key strategies could include helping students find their “whys,” making difficult assignments less intimidating, and connecting material to student interests.
Questions or need specific data? Contact Michael Spinks and Katy DeLong at thelassi@lccc.edu. Check back next week for more insights!
Give Your Clothes a Second Chance to Make a First Impression
3v3 Basketball Registration Now Open
Looking for a fun way to get active and compete? Recreation 3v3 Basketball is coming to Berrier Hall
When: Thursdays — October 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
Time: Games begin at 2:30 p.m.
Location: Berrier Hall Gymnasium
Format:
- 3v3, half-court games
- 10-minute games
- Up to 5 players per team (substitutions during dead balls)
- Players keep track of their own fouls, violations, and score.
- Open to LCCC students, faculty, and staff
Register as a team or individually.
Spirit & Wellness
Spirit Committee Upcoming Events
Reminders
October 10, 2026 is World Mental Health Day!
Stay “In the Know” about Middle States!
Do you know the Seven Standards of Excellence at LCCC?
Standard I: Mission and Goals
The institution’s mission clearly defines its overarching purpose, the student population it serves, and its primary educational goals within the context of higher education. It ensures that all academic programs, services, and strategic initiatives align with and advance this core mission.
Standard II: Ethics and Integrity
Overview: Demonstrates the institution’s commitment to ethical conduct, transparency, operational integrity, and fair treatment across all aspects of governance and academic affairs. It encompasses compliance with legal regulations, academic freedom, non-discrimination policies, and clear, honest communication with all constituents.
Standard III: Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience
Overview: Focuses on providing coherent, rigorous, and high-quality academic curricula across all degree levels and delivery formats. It ensures that learning experiences are facilitated by qualified faculty, supported by adequate instructional resources, and designed to foster meaningful educational outcomes.
Standard IV: Support of the Student Experience
Overview: Covers co-curricular services and support systems designed to facilitate student success from recruitment through graduation. This includes comprehensive admissions processes, academic advising, financial aid, counseling, career services, and extra-curricular programming tailored to a diverse student body.
Standard V: Educational Effectiveness Assessment
Overview: Requires systematic and continuous evaluation of student learning outcomes at both institutional and program levels. Assessment data must be consistently analyzed and leveraged to drive continuous improvement in curriculum, pedagogy, and educational quality.
Fall Transfer Fair
Don’t miss the Fall Transfer Fair on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the CSC Building, Main Campus.
This event is open to students, alumni, and the public. Meet with representatives from a variety of colleges and universities who will be available to answer your questions and provide information about transferring to a four-year institution.
Whether you’re exploring your options or ready to take the next step, the Transfer Fair is a valuable opportunity to plan for your future!
Unauthorized Items
Guest Speaker Dr. Khori Newlander presents “Bigfoot, Ancient Aliens, and Other Fantasies: Why Critical Thinking (Still) Matters”
Please join LCCC’s Honors Scholars on Wednesday, October 7, in the Community Services Center rooms 203-205 from 2:20 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. for a presentation by Dr. Khori Newlander, Professor of Anthropological Archaeology at Kutztown University. This presentation is open to the entire campus.
Presentation Abstract: Did aliens visit the Earth in the past, bringing civilization to our “primitive” ancestors? Or do we owe civilization to survivors from the lost city of Atlantis? Does Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster really exist? Did dinosaurs and people live at the same time? Questions dealing with the mysteries of the past and present have long been answered by offering fantastic explanations—explanations that invoke the occult, paranormal, mystical, and miraculous. For their part, professional scientists typically regard such fantastic explanations as pseudoscience (“fake science”). Yet pseudoscience has enjoyed renewed interest from an increasingly science-averse audience. Dr. Newlander will explore some examples from cryptozoology and pseudoarchaeology to sharpen our critical thinking skills and see how scientists come to evidence-based understandings of the world.
Dr. Khori Newlander earned a B.A. in Archaeology from Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Michigan, Ann Abor, MI. Trained as a North Americanist, Dr. Newlander’s earlier research focused on Paleoindian sites in eastern Nevada. At Kutztown University, Dr. Newlander and his students are presently engaged in archaeological research on historic and precontact sites in eastern Pennsylvania. In his spare time, Dr. Newlander keeps his eyes peeled for Bigfoot.
LASSI Scores Predict Student Performance
Our Fall 2025 LASSI (Learning and Study Strategies Inventory) data show that student scores were significantly related to end-of-spring GPA. More than just measuring skills, it’s possible that completing the LASSI and its follow-up activities may serve as an effective intervention to boost course performance overall.
In a fall sample of 256 students across 20 course sections, 8 out of 10 LASSI categories were uniquely statistically significantly when correlated with GPA:
- Attitude
- Concentration
- Information Processing
- Motivation
- Selecting Main Ideas
- Test-Taking Strategies
- Time Management
- Use of Academic Resources
When analyzing all categories combined, Motivation and Test-Taking Strategies emerged as the strongest predictors of term GPA—making them prime targets for future interventions.
Check back next week for more LASSI scores analysis. Questions or need specific data? Contact Michael Spinks and Katy DeLong at thelassi@lccc.edu.
Help Us Serve You Better- Take the Annual Internal Services Effectiveness Survey
The Second Life of Freddie Nole Documentary Talk
Join us on Monday, October 12th, at 2:30 p.m. in AC 107/108 as we welcome Freddie Nole, star of the multiple-award-winning documentary “The Second Life of Freddie Nole.” Freddie spent nearly 50 years in prison, and since his release, “meets newly released men at the prison gates—offering transportation, support, and a path toward a second chance.” Freddie does this incredible work right here in Pennsylvania!
RSVP here for an afternoon of great conversation and insights from an advocate who is being the change he wants to see in the world. Light refreshments will be served.
Monochromatic Day: The Color Takeover!
One color, maximum spirit! Departments across campus went all-in for Monochromatic Spirit Day. Take a look at the sea of vibrant department pride captured by the Spirit Committee!
KEYS Program
Keystone Education Yields Success (KEYS) Program
The KEYS program is a grant-funded program meant to assist students in continuing to pursue their education by breaking down barriers. Referrals to the program are accepted on a rolling basis for students meeting the following criteria:
- Current LCCC students registered or indicating an intention to register for courses.
- A minimum 2.0 GPA (exceptions for incoming freshman who have not yet earned a GPA)
- SNAP, TANF, or Family Works recipients
The KEYS program offers assistance through a variety of means, including but not limited to:
- Walmart, Target, WEPA printing, and LCCC Bookstore gift cards
- Transportation funding, such as mileage reimbursement, Speedway Gas gift cards, and bus passes
- Referrals for clothing for educational and employment purposes (including LCCC scrubs)
- Loaner laptops and graphing calculators
- Funding for required educational fees such as clearances, CastleBranch, NCLEX/TEAS testing, CPR training, etc.
- Tuition assistance (TANF only)
- Assistance with LCCC and external referrals and resources
Students interested in learning more about the program or interested in applying can visit the KEYS page. Students can also email the general KEYS email at keys@lccc.edu or contact Rachel Casanova, the KEYS Administrator/Student Facilitator, at rcasanova@lccc.edu, 610-799-1744, or by stopping by SSC 121.
