November 10, 2015

Dixon University Center all-hazard mitigation plan completed

Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu

Harrisburg – The final public hearing on the Dixon University Center all-hazard mitigation plan will be held at 10 a.m., Nov. 17, in Conference Room C of the main administration building at the Dixon University Center.

Center officials along with those from Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education and Michael Baker International have been working since January 2014 to update the plan, which will be the blueprint for reducing or eliminating long-term property damage and saving lives from the effects of future natural and man-made disasters in the community.
After evaluating risks, assessing capabilities, and developing a mitigation strategy, the DUC Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee is inviting county, municipal, non-profit and business stakeholders; the campus community; and members of the public to hear about the draft plan, provide feedback on the HMP and learn about plan implementation strategies.
The HMP, when approved, will guide DUC toward greater disaster resistance as part of on-going efforts to create a more sustainable community. An approved plan will also qualify the University Center for certain kinds of FEMA mitigation project funding.
The DUC serves as the administrative headquarters of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. It comprises six buildings, which also include classrooms and conference facilities.
The State System is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with about 107,000 degree-seeking students and thousands more who are enrolled in certificate and other career-development programs. Collectively, the 14 universities that comprise the State System offer more than 2,300 degree and certificate programs in more than 530 academic areas. Nearly 520,000 State System university alumni live in Pennsylvania.
The State System universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operate branch campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP), and Clearfield (Lock Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including the DUC and in Center City in Philadelphia.