Venango Campus Transition

Cultural and economic growth in Venango County will get a boost under a plan developed by the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism and Pennsylvania Western University Clarion for the university’s Venango property.

Read the full news release.

The PennWest associate degree in nursing would move to PennWest Clarion beginning in fall 2024, pending approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the accrediting body for PennWest. Students in their second year will finish their degree at Venango and gradate in May. First-year students will transition to the Clarion campus.
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Questions?

Current students can contact Craig Coleman, Associate Dean College of Health Sciences and Human Services.

Prospective students can contact Casey Beightol, Associate Director of Admissions.

Current Student FAQs

Will I need to pay more in fees on the PennWest Clarion Campus?

Students currently enrolled in a degree program on the Venango Campus will not pay additional fees if they continue progress toward their degree.

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Will I have access to on-campus healthcare if I attend PennWest Clarion?

Yes, students have access to the on-campus health center operated by UPMC. For more information about on-campus health services, please visit: https://www.clarion.edu/student-life/health-fitness-and-wellness/health-care-services/index.html

Will students have access to the counseling center and wellness services at PennWest Clarion?

Yes, PennWest Clarion has three full-time counselors who are available during the fall and spring semesters. Students also have access to wellness services year-round. Wellness services also provides students with referral support and case management services. To learn more about counseling and wellness services, please visit: https://www.clarion.edu/student-life/health-fitness-and-wellness/counseling-services/how-we-can-help.html

Am I able to live on campus at PennWest Clarion? What options are available?

Yes, please visit the below link to see all the on-campus housing options available to PennWest Clarion students: https://www.pennwest.edu/campuses/clarion/housing

Where can I learn about on-campus dining options and meal plans?

Please see the below link to learn about on-campus dining options: https://www.clarion.edu/student-life/dining-at-clarion/

Is there someone I can contact for more information?

Craig Coleman, Associate Dean College of Health Sciences and Human Services.

Can I get involved in campus activities and student organizations at PennWest Clarion?

Yes, students can attend campus events and choose among 150 recognized student organizations. They include clubs, Greek organizations, club sports and intramural sports through the recreation center.

Will my current scholarships transfer to another campus?

Any new student scholarships will transfer. For current students, scholarships may transfer. Contact the Financial aid office at financialaid@pennwest.edu for more information.

ASN Program FAQs

I am a second year ASN student. How does this move impact me?

All students will complete all of their classes on the Venango campus in the Spring of 2024. The Pinning Ceremony will be held on the Venango campus and participate in Commencement at the PennWest Clarion campus.

I am a first year ASN student. How does this move impact me?

All ASN classes and labs will be offered at the PennWest Clarion campus beginning in the Fall of 2024.

I am starting the ASN program in the Fall of 2024. How does this move impact me?

All of the courses required for the ASN program will be offered on the PennWest Clarion campus.

Where will the ASN clinicals be offered?

All clinicals will be within a 50-mile radius of the Clarion campus. This includes UPMC Northwest, Independence-Clarion Hospital, Clarion Psychiatric Center, and area skilled nursing facilities. There may be additional opportunities for ASN students to utilize other healthcare facilities in the region that were not accessible in the past.

Are there other opportunities that were not available at the Venango campus that will be available to ASN students at the PennWest Clarion campus?

Students will have the ability to become more involved in campus life on the PennWest Clarion campus. There are opportunities for students to participate student government, clubs, athletics, intramura activities
Students will also have access to additional resources such as housing, meal plans, access to the recreation center and health center.
The PennWest Clarion campus offers a wider variety of support services such as tutoring, assistance with writing, student disability services and counseling. While these services were available on the Venango campus, they were limited in recent years.
Students will have the ability to choose what section of general education courses best fits their schedule and will have a wider variety of general education courses needed to complete their BSN degree through the PennWest RN-BSN program.
Students will have more opportunities for work-study positions on the Clarion campus.

Will students still have access to the skills and simulation labs?

Yes, the skills and simulation lab at the Clarion campus is much larger and newer. ASN students will also have access to faculty who have received additional training on simulation so students will have access to more simulations.

Who will be teaching the courses in the ASN program?

PennWest nursing faculty will continue to teach courses and supervise clinical rotations in the program.

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Prospective Student FAQs

Where can I study to earn an Associate of Science in Nursing degree?

The ASN program is now available at the PennWest Clarion campus, as well as the Somerset site.

How can I apply to the ASN program at Clarion or Somerset?

The application process is the same. Apply at www.pennwest.edu/apply.

What if I've been accepted at Venango for this fall?

We honor all acceptances. No need to reapply to the ASN program. If you've already paid your deposit, your acceptance will transfer to PennWest Clarion or the Somerset site.

Would I qualify for any other scholarships?

PennWest Clarion has additional scholarship opportunities, as well as many other scholarships available through each campus’ foundation for which you may be considered.

Is there someone I can talk to about my admission to the ASN program?

Contact Casey Beightol at beightol_c@pennwest.edu.

Venango County, Oil City Region FAQs

Why is PennWest transferring the site to the Oil Region Alliance?

The site has faced declining enrolment for more than a decade. In order to provide the best educational and co-curricular experiences for ASN students, that program will be moving to the Clarion campus, pending approval by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The Venango location has been an essential regional resource for over 60 years, providing job training, continuing education, cultural experiences, historic preservation, recreation and community convocation. Much of that legacy would be preserved under ORA plans.

As a certified economic development organization, the ORA would host job-training programs at Venango and continue to support the Venango Conservation Hall of Fame established in Rhoades Center. It would also support and promote the Barbara Morgan Harvey Center for the Study of Oil Heritage in Charles L. Suhr Library.

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What will happen to the facilities?

The Oil Region Alliance, an established 501c (3) is a multi-faceted rural development hub for the Oil Region and are long-term partners of the campus. They will assume the physical assets and community-focused mission of this essential site.

I am a donor to the campus, what will happen to my gifts?

We are working closely with the Clarion University Foundation, Inc., on past gifts to the campus. If you are a donor, you will be receiving personalized information.

My organization currently rents space on the campus, is that still possible?

We will be reaching out directly to your organization to review opportunities for your ongoing needs.

Venango Campus Transition

Current Student FAQs

ASN Program FAQs

Prospective Student FAQs

Venango County, Oil City Region FAQs

Employee FAQs