CCAC faculty and staff tell council capital investments expanded capacity and urged continued funding

Several faculty and staff from the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) told Allegheny County Council that recent county investments in facilities and equipment have expanded student capacity, improved instruction and generated local economic activity, and they asked council to support CCAC’s forthcoming budget request.

Anne George, nursing lab coordinator at CCAC’s North Campus, said renovations doubled lab capacity and added simulation equipment that prepares students for licensure exams and clinical care. "With the expanded space, we doubled our lab capacity and acquired state-of-the-art equipment that gives our students hands-on experience through realistic patient-care simulations," George said. She said the program recently completed a simulated blood-transfusion-reaction scenario and will simulate postpartum-hemorrhage training.

Art Enzinga (listed in the record as Art Nzinga), associate professor and culinary-program coordinator, said CCAC’s upgraded center has hosted national gatherings and training sessions that attracted out-of-region visitors, producing lodging, airport and restaurant spending. "Money that you give to CCAC, it doesn't disappear. It comes back as revenue for the county," he told council, citing recent events that brought hundreds of attendees.

Other speakers from CCAC described expanded mechatronics and robotics instruction, more apprenticeships, greater faculty capacity and new marketing footage highlighting programs. Counselors and student-support staff asked council to continue funding mental-health and student-support services that staff said have been critical in improving retention and graduation rates.

College representatives said President Bullock will present the 2026 budget request in coming weeks and asked council to review it favorably to sustain program growth and student success.