From Campus to Community: The Evolution of ALIC
OUR STORY
Founded within Allegheny College’s 210-year tradition of liberal arts education, the Allegheny Lab for Innovation & Creativity (ALIC) was created to merge hands-on technical learning with critical thinking and creative exploration.
ALIC @ Bessemer
EXPANDING OUR MISSION
With support from the Alden Trust, ALIC grew from a single campus lab into a dual-location powerhouse for innovation and industry collaboration.
ALIC @ Bessemer extends this mission of innovation into the heart of Meadville, mirroring real-world manufacturing environments to provide workforce training, industry courses, and direct R&D opportunities. By aligning Allegheny’s educational foundation with local economic development, ALIC @ Bessemer strengthens the regional business ecosystem, fostering sustainable growth and ongoing innovation.
The ALIC Timeline
Inspiration for ALIC
Beginning in 2017, Allegheny College initiated efforts to align teaching and research around emerging technologies under the guidance of then-Provost Ron Cole. This ultimately led to the 2019 launch of the Allegheny Lab for Innovation and Creativity (ALIC) on campus, providing undergraduate students hands-on experience with fabrication and design tools. In 2020, the college expanded its commitment to applied learning by introducing Experiential Learning (EXL) courses taught by industry experts, which sparked growing interest in extending these offerings to adult learners in the broader community.
2023
Allegheny leases a 4-story, 30,000 sq ft facility formerly occupied by the Precision Manufacturing Institute. The first industry-focused adult education training workshops launch through ALIC @ Bessemer.
Spring 2024
Manufacturer needs assessment conducted with over 30 local manufacturers, government officials, and technical education providers contributing insights that informed a unique ALIC approach.
Fall 2024
Pilot phase launch begins with operational planning, instructor engagement, course development, facility rennovation, equipment acquisition, and operating systems development.
Spring 2025
Pilot courses completed; ALIC @ Bessemer receives official accreditation as a branch campus of Allegheny College from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Fall 2025
Full launch of the ALIC @ Bessemer adult education curriculum: upskilling the existing manufacturing workforce, training new and prospective entrants to the industry, and providing professional development opportunities for all adult learners.
30,000 Sq Ft of Advanced Manufacturing
Future Directions
As the ALIC @ Bessemer curriculum continues to expand, several additional initiatives are currently in development and will go online in the coming years. Specifically, starting in Fall 2025, adult learners participating in coursework through ALIC @ Bessemer will receive Allegheny College credit, and will also be eligible for microcredentials.
A microcredential is a focused educational program that allows individuals to gain specific knowledge, skills, or competencies in a particular area. Unlike full degrees, microcredentials are typically shorter in duration, targeted toward industry-relevant or job-specific skills, flexible, and stackable. They are often issued as digital badges or certificates and are popular for upskilling, reskilling, and professional development, especially in fast-changing industries.
ALIC @ Bessemer continues to develop its offering beyond curriculum expansion, ultimately planning to offer shared use of installed equipment, venue space rental, use-inspired research, and Meadville’s first dedicated business incubator and accelerator for manufacturing start-ups.
Sq Ft Facility
Sq Ft High Bay Main Shop
Manufacturing Innovation and Research Lab Bays
Instructional Classrooms
Offices and Individual Workspaces
Sq Ft Flex Space
Next Steps
Industry-Grade Technology
Explore Our
STATE-OF-The-ART Equipment
Train with industry-grade tools, including 5-axis CNC machines, additive manufacturing technologies, automation systems, and more. Our facility mirrors real-world production environments to provide the most immersive learning experience possible.
Our Team
