Expand AllClick here for a more accessible versionApproximately 350 students attend the Commonwealth Technical Institute, of which approximately 50 are commuters.
Class size is approximately 15 students for lab classes and 20 for lecture classes.
Although single rooms are available, most students will share a dorm room with another student in a double occupancy dorm. The Commonwealth Technical Institute at the Hiram G. Andrews Center is tobacco-free, with designated smoking areas provided outside of the building. All dorm rooms are equipped with cable television and telephone lines. The student is responsible for contacting local service providers and paying the monthly fees, should subscription to these services be desired. Students can subscribe to Johnstown's cable service provider for a monthly fee. A convenient payment box is located within the Hiram G. Andrews Center. Students are provided secure dormitory areas, only accessible to residents with key card access.
The Commonwealth Technical Institute at the Hiram G. Andrews Center has a limited number of private rooms. Students normally share a dorm room (although you can request a private room) unless their counselor or sponsor can justify why a single room is needed. Students with disabilities requiring a private room are given priority if they are under a doctor's order and if the physician supplies a letter stating that he or she needs a single room. Every room at the Commonwealth Technical Institute at the Hiram G. Andrews Center, whether single or double, has a bathroom connected to the room.
Students are welcome to bring a computer, tablet and/or device. Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the building.
Due to fire regulations, items like hot plates, coffee pots, candles/open flames, etc., are not permitted in the dorms. A dormitory-sized refrigerator is permitted to be brought by each student. Please limit the size of the refrigerator to that of a standard dormitory-sized refrigerator. Students who need to refrigerate medication can keep their prescriptions in the Wellness Center should they choose. Each dorm lounge has a television and microwave oven available to all students. Personal televisions, gaming systems, and stereos are permitted in dorm rooms. Students may also bring bicycles to campus and store them in the Recreation Department, where they can be chained and locked.
Students residing on campus are provided with three meals each day from the Dining Hall. A variety of items are available at meals, which are planned by a Registered Dietician and prepared by Commonwealth employees and students enrolled in Culinary Arts programs.
Students requiring special meals due to health concerns must provide a physician's order and advanced notice to the vocational rehabilitation counselor before admission. The student must consult with the Clinical Dietician to plan their weekly menus. Due to the large number of meals the Dining Hall must provide daily, it is difficult to accommodate food preferences for reasons other than health. Options other than Dining Hall food exist, such as the Courtyard Café snack shop and the numerous restaurants and fast-food establishments in the area, most of which deliver to campus.
No. Students are free to come and go as they please. Our students are expected to govern their own conduct and keep their own curfews. The Commonwealth Technical Institute at the Hiram G. Andrews Center has designated doors which are open at night for students coming in or going out, and security staff and dorm counselors are on duty 24-hours a day, seven-days a week to assist students and maintain their safety while on campus. Students are strongly encouraged to secure alternate housing during term breaks when residential services are reduced.
Term and holiday breaks at the Hiram G. Andrews Center occur regularly throughout the year, and all state-recognized holidays (11 in all) are observed by students and staff. There is a minimum one-week break between three terms, every 16 weeks in length.
Term breaks follow this pattern:
Spring Break - one week at the end of April
Summer Break - one week at the end of August
Fall Break - Wednesday before Thanksgiving until the following Monday
Winter Break - two weeks over Christmas and New Year
Access the printable CTI at HGAC Calendar (or accessible version) for date specifics.
The Commonwealth Technical Institute at the Hiram G. Andrews Center holds classes three terms a year, including the summer months, each of which is 16 weeks in length. This shortens the length of time required to complete a training program, preparing students for a job sooner than if they took the summer off.
Johnstown is fortunate to have an extremely robust, accessible public transportation system. CamTran is Cambria County's public transportation authority. CamTran has been a longtime partner with the Hiram G. Andrews Center to ensure public transportation for our students is easily accessible. All buses that stop at the Hiram G. Andrews Center (which has its own bus stop on campus) are wheelchair accessible. All CamTran drivers participate in disability awareness programs. All students who are admitted to the Hiram G. Andrews Center are provided training in the use of CamTran transportation, as well. The CamTran also offers a Reduced Transit Program, which allows students with disabilities to ride their buses at reduced fares during non-peak hours. Additionally, the Hiram G. Andrews Center is minutes away from the Greyhound bus station and the Amtrak train station. Taxi and ride sharing services are available to Johnstown and surrounding area, including the Cambria County Area Municipal Airport.
All prospective students should consider this when coming to the Hiram G. Andrews Center. If you do not have transportation, your counselor will work with you to explore transportation options, such as Greyhound or Amtrak.
Our Wellness Center is open from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day. Every morning, students can report to "sick call" at the Wellness Center and see a physician, if required. Registered nurses are on-duty during operation hours to assist ill students or to make transportation arrangements if a student needs to go to off-campus medical facilities for treatment.
The Hiram G. Andrews Center is within minutes of Duke-LifePoint Conemaugh Health Systems. Transportation for students who do not require an ambulance is available via CamTran or, under certain circumstances, by Hiram G. Andrews Center staff.
Students have the option of purchasing their required medications through any local pharmacy, or they can choose to have their medications delivered to Hiram G. Andrews Center every afternoon, Monday through Friday. Most students have found this delivery service extremely helpful since it does not require traveling to pick up their medications.