ETC at Pitt-Titusville Unveils Newly Renovated J. Curtis McKinney II Student Union

  TITUSVILLE, Pa. – Nearly 200 people from the region celebrated the opening of the newly renovated student union at the Education & Training Center at Pitt-Titusville and toured its updated facilities on Thursday, April 24.

            Elected officials and representatives from local businesses, the community, students, faculty and staff attended the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated J. Curtis McKinney II Student Union and celebrated the successful capital campaign, which made the renovation project possible.

            “This is an incredible day for our students, our community and the future of education and workforce development in the region,” said Rick Esch, Pitt-Titusville’s president. “Today marks not only the opening of a renovated facility, but also the realization of a bold vision that combines education, innovation, and community to create real and lasting opportunities.”  

            “This is more than a building,” Esch continued. “It’s a promise. A promise that ETC is leading and shaping the future of education and workforce training in ways that are flexible and grounded in real-world need.”  

            The newly renovated facility includes the recently named Peter C. Rossin Manufacturing Center, a makerspace, a digital arts studio, two gallery spaces, upgraded classrooms, and collaborative areas designed to spark innovation and hands-on learning.

            “It is an honor to be standing here today,” said Dr. Stephanie Fiely, ETC executive director, “thanks to the collaboration of community and educational partners, regional employers, donors, faculty, staff, and students, to offer low-to-no-cost education and training to fulfill the workforce needs of northwestern Pennsylvania. The newly revised center is here to enhance the educational opportunities of residents in the region and to strengthen our communities.”

            “This renovation,” Fiely continued, “exemplifies our commitment to fostering academic excellence and supporting regional economic development through collaboration.”

            The renovation began in the spring of 2024 to serve as a springboard for workforce development advancements for the region. Since the MAC’s relocation to Titusville in 2021, it had been located off-campus. The new on-campus facility is equipped with an assortment of tools and equipment to give students hands-on experience, including mills, lathes, band saws, a drill press, and disc and belt grinders. The center also includes quality control and inspection tools, including a CNC coordinate measuring machine and optical comparator.

            In addition to the unveiling of the new facility, the event highlighted ETC’s success in surpassing its remarkable $3 million capital campaign goal, which helped to support the renovation project. 

            “Thanks to the unwavering support of our community, I’m proud to share that we have exceeded our immediate capital campaign goal of $3 million,” said Dr. Joseph McCarthy, provost and senior vice chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh. “That milestone is more than just a number, it’s a testament to the shared vision, faith, and dedication that fuels the mission.”

            Jim Broadhurst, who along with Tom McKinney served as a co-chair of the campaign, said, “Having the Pitt brand involved makes a big difference here, as it provides inroads for students who may want to continue on and build upon the education they learned here. The connection provides many additional opportunities to regional students which ultimately provides a favorable impact on the region’s economic health.”