On June 20, 2018, Reading Area Community College (RACC) President Anna Weitz and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) President Kenneth Hawkinson signed an agreement which will allow Kutztown to teach a Bachelor’s of Social Work program (BSW) at the Reading Area Community College campus starting in the fall of 2018. 
 
RACC graduates will be able to earn a Bachelor of Social Work from KU in two years through an accelerated program at RACC’s campus. In addition to Kutztown’s Bachelor level program courses, students will be able to take additional RACC courses to fulfill general education and electives required by the bachelor’s degree major. 

“Kutztown University is excited to partner with Reading Area Community College in this unique endeavor,” says Dr. Anne Zayaitz, KU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “Our nationally accredited social work program is one of the cornerstones of our academic offerings, and we look forward to helping students at RACC interested in the major by offering classes on site in Reading.” 

The agreement frames a vital human services pathway formed by two Berks County public institutions of higher education, and addresses the projected workforce need for qualified social workers in the region. At the center of this agreement are the RACC AA in Social Work graduates who will be able to earn a Bachelor’s in Social Work right in the community where they live, work, and raise their families. 

“These students want to stay and serve the people in Berks County. The BSW at RACC’s campus helps them achieve their career goals while providing our community with well-trained social workers. RACC and Kutztown’s shared goal is to make students’ dreams attainable, and this is now made easier by offering the bachelor’s degree program on our campus,” says RACC President Dr. Anna Weitz.

For more information about the KU BSW program starting this fall at RACC’s campus, please contact Jim Garraway, KU’s Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions, 610.683. 4787 or Dr. Mary Rita Weller, Assistant Professor - Department of Social Work Kutztown University, 484.646.4270.