Reading, PA – Reading Area Community College, Lehigh Carbon Community College and Northampton Community College have formed a partnership that provides an opportunity for students in surrounding counties to complete an Associate’s degree in Histotechnology. In the agreement, students enroll in the Histotechncian Program at their local community college to complete their preclinical general education requirements; then finish the program at Reading Area Community College, paying Berks County tuition rates. The program consists of online courses and three in-person practicums at clinical sites in Berks and surrounding counties. 
 
Histotechnicians study cellular structures and their reactions with various stains using light microscopes while learning about the use of other microscope types and their testing requirements. Technicians process the tissues to prepare slides for various tests used in pathology to aid in proper diagnoses. 

“Histotechnicians play a critical role in the healthcare arena as they are skilled professionals in a laboratory setting. The future for employment is excellent and there is a critical need for well-trained histotechnicians locally, as well as throughout the country,” says RACC Professor/Program Director of Medical Laboratory Technician & Histotechnician Programs, Alayne Fessler.  

Histotechnicians can earn up to an average salary of $61,000-plus. It is a promising and rapidly growing field in which graduates can enjoy a long and successful career. Today, there are more jobs for Histologic Technicians than there are well-trained, qualified professionals to fill those positions. 

“Career opportunities in healthcare are growing in our area, and Lehigh Carbon Community College is honored to be able to provide this additional career path to our students,” says Lehigh Carbon Community College President Dr. Ann D. Bieber. “This partnership among the three community colleges demonstrates our collective commitment to student success and provides trained healthcare professionals to our respective regions.” 

“We are partnering with Reading Area Community College in a cooperative agreement so the Northampton Community College students can take their general education courses at Northampton and then apply for transfer to the Medical Lab Technician or the Histotechnician program. Both are greatly needed in our laboratories. It has been a great partnership,” says Northampton Community College Dean of Allied Health and Sciences, Judith Rex. 

To learn more about the RACC Histotechnician Program, visit racc.edu/academics/histotechnician, or call 610.372.4721 ext. 5428.

Reading, PA – Reading Area Community College (RACC) is providing significantly reduced tuition rates to their students who take the Dual Enrollment courses. 

Dual enrollment, or early college, is used by high school students to explore college options and earn college credit prior to high school graduation. Increasingly popular among eligible high school students, these programs allow secondary students to enroll in postsecondary coursework and receive both college and high school credit simultaneously…at a reduced cost. One Berks County school district experiencing the benefits of RACC Dual Enrollment programs is the Muhlenberg School District.

Muhlenberg High School Principal, Mike Mish, sees the benefits of dual enrollment. “It allows and affords many of our students to get a jumpstart on earning college credits. We have worked hard to provide students with as many opportunities as possible to continue to advance their education. Our partnership with RACC has been amazing. The faculty and staff at RACC have been such a wonderful resource to us at Muhlenberg and we look forward to many more years working together. We have the most students and courses being taken since our partnership with RACC has started.” In some cases, there is no tuition charge for high school students participating in the dual-enrollment program through the Foundation for RACC’s DE Scholarship Program. 

“By taking a college course at their own high school, students learn to challenge themselves academically and gain valuable experience in preparation for college,” says RACC Assistant Director of Early College Programs Kristen Marcinko. “Through the Foundation for RACC, many Dual Enrollment students are awarded no-cost tuition for the program.” One standout Muhlenberg High School student who is taking advantage of the RACC Dual Enrollment opportunity this semester is senior Rowan Korinn Crammer. After graduation, Rowan will be enrolled in the Chemical Engineering Honors Program at Drexel University. She feels fortunate to have gone through the RACC DE program. “The program set me up for success, and helped me feel very prepared for college. Almost all my credits will transfer, and I was able to save a significant amount of money as well,” she says.

Rowan is a second-generation RACC student. Her mother, Jennifer Koch, is a distinguished 2010 RACC graduate, who received the Eugene Shirk Scholarship to Albright College, then continued to Drexel University for her Master’s in Library Science and Archival Studies. She is currently the Archivist at Bethany Children’s Home.

 “The benefits of Dual Enrollment are essentially college credits at a discounted rate and the ability to take a class that could be challenging with the full supports available at the high school level that aren't as readily available at the post-secondary level; such as seeing the teacher every day,” says Muhlenberg High School Math Dual Enrollment instructor, Justin Vallone. 

Now is the time to sign up for classes in your high school, for next school year, that offer dual enrollment. Muhlenberg High School Counselor, Melissa Work, promotes Dual Enrollment within her district. “Our families are very appreciative and excited to participate in RACC's dual enrollment program. We ensure that our families are aware of this wonderful opportunity prior to scheduling courses, so every student can participate.” 

To learn more about the Dual Enrollment program at RACC, contact Assistant Director of Early College Programs, Kristen Marcinko at kmarcinko@racc.edu or 610.372.4721 x5127.

Reading, PA, Tuesday, October 19, 2021 – Reading Area Community College (RACC) President Dr. Susan D. Looney and Albright College President Dr. Jacquelyn S. Fetrow, signed a transfer agreement that will offer guaranteed admission to Albright College for RACC graduates to pursue their bachelor’s degrees.

The guaranteed admission and seamless transfer agreement between RACC and Albright College will provide an affordable pathway through select associate degree programs to parallel bachelor’s degrees. This agreement provides guaranteed admission and junior standing for all RACC graduates of A.A. and A.S. programs, as well as select A.A.S. programs. In addition, Albright College will provide many robust scholarship opportunities for RACC graduates, including one full scholarship. In addition, a reverse transfer agreement will offer RACC students who have earned a minimum of 15 credits, but who enter Albright College before completing their associate degree, an opportunity to transfer Albright credits back to RACC to earn an associate degree.

“RACC is committed to creating academic partnerships, especially in Berks County, that encourage students to complete their associate degree before transferring to a four-year institution,” says Dr. Looney. “Our graduates are highly valued by our college and university partners, and we are excited that Dr. Fetrow and Albright College have committed to a seamless transfer to their bachelor’s degree programs.”

“At Albright, transfer students will expand their horizons within an academically talented community that comes from more than 25 states and a dozen countries. And they’ll benefit from nationally-recognized proactive support — academic, social and financial — all resources crucial for their success,” said Fetrow. “My goal, and the goal of all of us at Albright College, is to guide these students to exceed their own expectations.”

Reading Area Community College is an accredited, comprehensive, open-enrollment education institution that provides associate degree and certificate programs with ten programs offered fully online; workforce and career-focused training; transitional coursework; personal enrichment programs and public service activities. Sponsored by Berks County, the College provides affordable access to meet identified community educational needs. 

Named a top national college by Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education and U.S. News & World Report, Albright College (founded 1856) is home to a diverse community of learners cultivating integrity, curiosity, connection and resilience. The college's flexible curriculum encourages students to combine and cross majors to create individualized academic programs. Close faculty mentorship and numerous experiential learning options create opportunities for Albright graduates to exceed their own expectations. Located in Reading, Pa., Albright is home to undergraduate students, adult learners and graduate students.

Reading, PA, May 22, 2021 – Despite challenges facing the academic communities during the past year, Reading Area Community College (RACC) and Reading High School have successfully continued their Reading College Knights program. Fourteen Reading High School seniors, including two RACC presidential scholars, completed the course remotely. Five of these students have committed to attend RACC after graduation.

The program allows college-ready Reading High seniors to take a three-credit college success strategies course through RACC. The course is designed to support student learning and academic success by addressing academic skills, career and academic planning as well as financial literacy. Emphasis is placed on the student’s academic and personal development in the college. This unique course, developed by RACC Foundational Studies Associate Professors Denise Strohmayr and Teri Floyd-Brumm, recently won the 2019 League for Innovation in the Community College Innovation of the Year Award.

Now in its third year, the Reading School District supports seniors who are academically ready for college courses an opportunity to take RACC courses in the spring of their senior year. The overall success rates of these students demonstrate the commitment faculty and staff at both institutions to smoothly transition high school students to college.

A recent graduate of the program says, “The things I learned in the College Knights Program have been tremendous in helping me better remember lectures, understand text and organize my train of thought. I have practiced active listening in personal situations as well. All of this has reduced my stress level and the results have been extremely positive in my life.”

“Our colleagues at the Reading School District believe in the same things we at RACC believe in – being an anchor institution that provides opportunity and hope for our students and for this community. Through the College Knights Program, we hope students gain the college experience they will remember throughout their college career,” says RACC President, Dr. Susan Looney.

To learn more about the College Knights Program, contact Kristen Marcinko, assistant director of community and academic partnerships, at 610.372.4721 ext. 5127.

Reading, PA, May 22, 2021 – William “Kit” Jackson, a senior at Oley Valley High School, graduated from Reading Area Community College (RACC) with an Associate of Science Transfer Degree on May 7, days before he will also graduate from high school. Kit combined RACC dual enrollment classes he took during his sophomore, junior and senior years at Oley Valley High School with RACC’s campus and online courses to complete the 63-credit degree this May. Kit plans to attend Bucknell University this fall to major in computer science.

While jointly attaining a high school diploma and a college associate degree would seem like an overwhelming workload, Kit also found time for activities outside of academics. He is in the school marching and jazz bands, has a part time job at a local horse farm and stables; and recently placed third in the TSA (Technology Student Association) statewide Computer Science and Information Technology Competition.

“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 in cybersecurity. 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 at Bucknell and in my career,” says Jackson. 

RACC dual enrollment students concurrently complete their requirements for high school graduation at the same time they earn college credit. Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and/or recommendation from their high school teacher and guidance counselor are eligible for dual enrollment courses. 

To learn more about the dual enrollment program at RACC, contact Kristen Marcinko, assistant director of community and academic partnerships, at 610.372.4721 ext. 5127.