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Penn College board approves audit firm

The Pennsylvania College of Technology Board approved the recommended audit firm, ParenteBeard.

The firm is a new choice for the college. For the past eight years, it’s used the Montoursville firm Larson & Kellett. Penn College will enter into a three-year contract with the ParenteBeard for $208,000.

“We thought it was the best practice to rotate firms,” said Chief Financial Officer Suzanne Stopper.

The board also agreed to allow the college to continue operations after June 30 at budgeted levels for the fiscal year of 2013-14, in the event the state budget is not passed by then.

This is a common practice for the college and acts as a fail safe if the state budget is not approved so the college can continue operations, officials said.

Dave Cotner, dean of the School of Industrial, Computing and Engineering Technologies, gave a presentation on several innovative aspects of the school that students, including a new program titled the “BAT” program.

According to Cotner, “BAT” allows students to take into account their backgrounds and current skills and “build” their own bachelor’s degree around that skill-set.

Cotner also informed the board about a new major – mechatronics – which helps students develop skills in mechanical, electrical, electronic, fluid power and automated control systems. Graduates are prepared for technical positions in a wide range of industries.

Ryan Gibson, newly elected Student Government president, was introduced to the board and talked briefly about new programs he hopes to implement with his fellow student government officers.

The focus of Gibson’s programs are to better connect the student government staff with the general student body.

The next board meeting is at 3 p.m. June 19 at the Professional Development Center at Penn College.

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