READING PA - May, 2024 – Kristin Fitzcharles, a senior at Daniel Boone Area High School, graduated from Reading Area Community College (RACC) with an Integrative Studies Associate of Arts degree on May 3, a few weeks before she will also graduate from high school. Kristin combined RACC dual enrollment classes she took during her freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years at Daniel Boone Area High School with RACC’s online courses to complete the 60-credit degree this May. She plans to continue her education at a yet undecided university to earn a Bachelor's in Applied Mathematics degree. She then intends to become an actuary by taking the actuarial exams.

While jointly attaining a high school diploma and a college associate degree would seem like an overwhelming workload, Kristin also found time for activities outside of academics. She is a member of the Spanish Club, Varsity Club, Future Business Leaders of America and the Ecology Club. She has earned six varsity letters in athletics, was captain of two varsity teams, and is an AP Scholar. Kristin volunteers her time as a volleyball coach, Berks County Subaru Enthusiasts, Ageless Harmony Adult Day Care and has volunteered almost 300 hours to benefit animal causes. She is also an avid hiker, bowler and volleyball player. Kristin also manages to serve as a caterer at Mission BBQ, and a cook at Maple Grove Concessions.

“The dual enrollment program at RACC has been a great way for me to get a head start on my four-year college degree, and also get me closer to a career as an actuary. Balancing the academic requirements of my diploma and associate degree, as well as my activities outside of school has really helped me develop the time management skills I will need in my career,” Kristin says.

RACC dual enrollment students concurrently complete their requirements for high school graduation at the same time they earn college credit. Students register for dual enrollment courses provided they meet the high school’s guidelines for dual enrollment and course prerequisites. 

To learn more about the dual enrollment program at RACC, contact Director of Academic Partnerships, Kristen Marcinko, at 610.372.4721 ext. 5127.

Reading, PA – Reading Area Community College and Arizona State University have recently announced a Universal Articulation agreement. This partnership reaffirms the commitment of both institutions to supporting academic preparedness and growing an ecosystem of transfer student success. Through this collaboration, students can expect a seamless transition to the university and receive the support essential for student success.

The Reading Area Community College MyPath2ASU® transfer experience is available to both students and the staff that supports them. Students can benefit from end-to-end learner navigation through course-by-course guided pathways, assistance in selecting courses that apply to their associate and ASU bachelor’s degree, guaranteed general admission to ASU, and admission into MyPath2ASU major choice if all requirements are met. Students can also track their degree progress to minimize loss of credit and receive personalized ASU communications to prepare academically and build a connection to ASU.

About Reading Area Community College
Reading Area Community College is an accredited, comprehensive, open-enrollment education institution that provides the following: associate degree, certificate and diploma programs; career-focused training; transitional coursework; skills training for business and industry; personal enrichment programs and public service activities. Sponsored by Berks County, the college provides affordable access to meet identified community educational needs.

About the MyPath2ASU Program
The MyPath2ASU program offers over 400 guided pathways into ASU on-campus, online and local undergraduate degree programs, including Business Administration, BA. This degree prepares graduates for various roles in a modern economy by teaching leadership, finances, forecasting demand and more. The program’s emphasis on general management skills means graduates can start their career in a variety of industries. Graduates can consider roles in supply chain or operations management, regulatory affairs, transportation management or any other public sector role. This diverse curriculum equips graduates to pursue many relevant opportunities along their career path.

In conclusion, the Universal Articulation agreement between Reading Area Community College and ASU aims to support student success through academic alignment, term-to-term persistence and transfer outcome strategies. With over 350 ASU undergraduate degree programs to choose from, students can tailor their education to their needs and interests while receiving the support they need to succeed.

Reading, PA – On Tuesday, August 29, Reading Area Community College (RACC) signed a guaranteed transfer agreement with Immaculata University in the Miller Center for the Arts on the RACC campus.

RACC President Dr. Susan Looney and Immaculata University President Barbara Lettiere entered the colleges into a Dual Admissions Transfer Agreement to facilitate the transfer of RACC students to Immaculata’s Baccalaureate Degree programs. This agreement applies to students who enter Immaculata as full-time or part-time undergraduate students. RACC students will be guaranteed admission with third year (junior) status at Immaculata. The agreement will apply to  RACC graduates with an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, or Associate in General Studies degree. Immaculata will award academic scholarships annually to all RACC graduates admitted to the college, and all RACC students will also be provided with a Dual Admissions Grant of $1,500 which is renewable each year the student is enrolled as a full-time matriculated undergraduate student. The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship will also be awarded to Phi Theta Kappa members.

"We are celebrating today a new agreement with Immaculata University, which will open many new doors of opportunity for our graduates. This pathway is the result of great cooperation and collaboration between faculty and deans of our respective institutions and will serve well both the needs of our institutions and, more importantly, those of our students," says Reading Area Community College President, Dr. Susan Looney.

“Immaculata University is proud to partner with RACC in the development of the Dual Admissions Agreement. The agreement clearly and seamlessly lays out the pathways to a bachelor’s degree and subsequent careers. This aligns exactly with what modern students are looking for and actively pursuing,” says Immaculata Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Dr. Angela Tekely.

"The availability of student scholarships when transferring a RACC associate degree to Immaculata's Baccalaureate Degree programs makes access to a continuing education easier and will reduce the financial burden for our qualified transferring students," says RACC Director of Academic Partnerships, Kristen M. Marcinko.

To learn more about the transfer agreement, or for more information about other transfer opportunities, contact Dana Stout at 610.372.4721 x5106, or visit Transfer Services.

About Reading Area Community College
Reading Area Community College is an accredited, comprehensive, open-enrollment education institution that provides associate degree, certificate, and diploma programs, career-focused training, transitional coursework, skills training for business and industry, personal enrichment programs, and public service activities. Sponsored by Berks County, the college provides affordable access to meet identified community educational needs.    

About Immaculata University
Immaculata University is a comprehensive, co-ed institution of higher learning that has emphasized academic success, student outcomes, faith-based values and personal growth for more than 100 years. Immaculata University values each student and empowers them to chart their own course.

Offering more than 75 in-demand undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, Immaculata University provides attainable education, personal support and meaningful career pathways to tomorrow’s leaders who are focused on intellectual, personal, professional and spiritual growth. Driven by the Catholic Intellectual tradition and the heritage of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata provides affordable, career-focused education that is accessible to students, regardless of income, location, test scores or academic achievement.

Ordering your books for your summer classes.

If you have financial aid, you can now use it to order your textbooks on-line through the Barnes and Noble RACC Bookstore. Textbooks will be shipped to your home at no charge as the physical store is closed.

Click here to order your text books

• Click on TEXTBOOKS
• Click on FIND TEXTBOOKS
• Choose SUMMER for the term 
• Enter each course that you are registered for and it will indicate what books you need
• Add items to your cart and then proceed to checkout
• Create an account if you do not have one
• Choose financial aid in the payment step

To check to see how much financial aid you have for books, log into myRACC and click on Self-Service. Then click on My Bookstore to see available funds.

Reading & Chester Counties, PA (February 6, 2023) —- As part of a first-time partnership, Reading Area Community College (RACC) and West Chester University (WCU) came together today to sign a degree completion agreement that will enhance greater access to a baccalaureate degree for RACC students. The new agreement between the two institutions enables qualified, enrolled RACC students to earn an associate degree and then transfer seamlessly to WCU with a renewable scholarship and priority housing. Eligible RACC students will receive a joint invitation from RACC President Dr. Susan Looney and WCU President Dr. Chris Fiorentino to enroll in the new dual admission program.

Effective today, more than 25 associate degree programs at RACC will transfer directly into parallel programs at WCU for eligible students. In addition, a renewable scholarship award of up to $2,000 per academic year will also be available to eligible RACC students.

"The new admissions agreement between Reading Area Community College and West Chester University will expand access to our college's transformative education for Pennsylvania students. This partnership will provide a direct pathway to a West Chester University degree for the talented graduates of RACC programs," says RACC President Dr. Susan Looney.

While at both institutions, students will receive support through financial advising, tutoring, and academic success coaching. To benefit from transfer scholarships and housing priorities, qualified RACC students must enroll at WCU within one calendar year from their graduation from RACC. 

“West Chester University is excited to partner with Reading Area Community College and have its graduates join our community,” said President Fiorentino. “Much like RACC, WCU is committed to the success of all students from every point of entry, and we take pride in doing whatever it takes to help students cross the finish line to graduation. At the same time, providing our students with access to a quality education at a reasonable cost is an uncompromising priority. We welcome being the next step in the academic plans of numerous RACC graduates.”

The dual admission agreement is designed to provide the best of both worlds to eligible RACC students who will be mapping an intentional path to WCU. Students at both campuses will establish relationships with professors who are committed to engaging students in dynamic and purposeful ways that will support their development inside the classroom as well as outside the classroom. 

Eligible students must receive their associate degree and meet all University degree, major and grade point average requirements. The University’s Exploratory Studies, Sports Medicine, Respiratory Care, and traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) major programs are not part of this new guaranteed dual admission agreement.

About Reading Area Community College

Reading Area Community College is an accredited, comprehensive, open-enrollment education institution that provides associate degrees, certificate and diploma programs, career-focused training; transitional coursework and skills training for business and industry. Sponsored by Berks County, the college provides affordable access to meet identified community educational needs.

About West Chester University

Enrolling more than 17,000 students, West Chester University is the largest member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1871, the University is a comprehensive public institution, offering a diverse range of more than 200 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 50 fields of study. In addition to the main campus in West Chester, the University offers programs through its graduate center, the campus in Philadelphia, and online. Six colleges and two schools comprise the University: University College, Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Business and Public Management, Education and Social Work, Health Sciences, and the Sciences and Mathematics, as well as the Wells School of Music, and the Graduate School.