Reading, PA, Tuesday, April 12, 2021 – Reading Area Community College (RACC) President, Dr. Susan D. Looney and Susquehanna University President Jonathan D. Green, signed a transfer agreement that will offer guaranteed admission to Susquehanna University for RACC associate degree graduates to pursue their bachelor’s degree.

RACC students who submit a letter of intent to enter Susquehanna prior to completing 30 transferable credit hours will have the following benefits: guaranteed admission into a bachelor’s degree program with third-year (junior) status at Susquehanna upon completion of their Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree; eligibility for an academic scholarship from Susquehanna of up to $31,000 per year based on their RACC grade point average at the time of application; and eligibility for an additional $5,000 scholarship from Susquehanna per year if students are members of Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

RACC students who do not sign a letter of intent will still be eligible for an academic scholarship of up to $31,000 per year based on their RACC grade point average.

“RACC is committed to creating partnerships that encourage students to complete their associate degree before transferring,” says Dr. Looney. “Our graduates are highly valued by our college and university partners, and we are excited that Susquehanna University has committed to a seamless transfer to their bachelor’s degree programs.”

“A college education continues to be a sound investment for any individual who is preparing for a prosperous future,” says President Green. “We look forward to ensuring a smooth transition for RACC graduates who come to Susquehanna to complete their bachelor’s degree in preparation for an even brighter future.”

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.

Susquehanna, a liberal arts university, focuses on intellectual development, global competence and career success. Susquehanna offers a nationally recognized study-abroad program and more than 100 majors and minors in business, humanities, arts and sciences. Students develop critical thinking, writing, teamwork and communication skills, which, combined with internships and research opportunities, prepare them for a lifetime of personal and professional success. Small classes enable faculty members to serve as mentors, as well as teachers. Ninety-six percent of Susquehanna students are employed or in graduate or professional school within six months of graduation.

Reading, PA, Friday, March 19, 2021 – Reading Area Community College will offer in-person graduation ceremonies for 2020 and 2021 graduates on Friday, May 7 in Santander Arena in Reading.

The college will be holding multiple ceremonies on that date. 

“We at RACC were determined, after having to postpone ceremonies during the height of the pandemic in 2020, to have an in-person ceremony this May if it was at all possible within health and safety protocols for our graduates and their families," says Dr. Susan D. Loony, RACC president.

Students eligible to graduate are required to register for graduation by Friday, April 16, 2021. 

"I am glad to say we found a way to make it happen, and we are thrilled that we will be able to give our graduates and their families, as well as our RACC faculty and staff, the ceremony they deserve for all the hard work they put into their education,” she continues.

CDC guidance for organizing large events and gathering will be observed. Graduates will be allowed to invite a yet to be determined number of guests to the ceremonies.

More information will be available as the commencement date gets closer on the college's commencement website.

The event will also be livestreamed for graduates and their families who may not be able to attend in-person.

Reading Area Community College Receives $20,000 from Customers Bank

Funds Support Local High School Students Earning College Credits

WEST READING, PA. (March 15, 2021) – On Friday, March 12, 2021, Richard Ehst, President and Chief Executive Officer of Customers Bank, and Dr. Susan Looney, President of Reading Area Community College, participated in a check presentation ceremony acknowledging Customers Bank's contribution of $20,000 to Reading Area Community College. The funds provided by the bank will be used to create scholarships for dual-enrollment high school students that are earning early college credits.

Reading Area Community College has relationships with other colleges that enable the college credits earned through the dual enrollment program to easily transfer to other universities. Students enrolled in the program are able to reduce the length of time in college and significantly impact the increasing cost of higher education.

"Reading Area Community College has established an excellent program that rewards high achieving students, which aligns with our values and the importance we place on continuing education," stated Ehst. "Regardless of whether you are currently in school, starting your career or have years of experience, furthering your education greatly impacts your potential earnings, so we are very pleased to support programs and organizations focused on helping members of the community improve themselves."

Enrolled students save time and money by earning both high school and college credits simultaneously as they complete most of their general education courses. High school students also enhance their college applications by providing a college transcript with completed courses.

"We are very grateful for the generous support of Customers Bank, which helps enable us to offer early college programs, including dual enrollment," stated Dr. Looney. "Since 1995, more than 6,200 high school students have participated in our dual enrollment program, earning over 49,000 transferrable college credits. Approximately 82 percent of students who complete at least one dual enrollment course with us go directly on to college."

Currently, sixteen Berks County high schools participate in the program. Students earning college credits most frequently further their education at Penn State University, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Alvernia University, Albright College, Millersville University, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg University, Temple University, Bloomberg University and the University of Pittsburgh.   

To learn more about Reading Area Community College's dual enrollment program or other early college programs, contact the guidance counselor at your student's high school. 

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About Customers Bank

Customers Bank, a subsidiary of Customers Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:CUBI) a bank holding company, is a full-service super-community bank with assets of approximately $18.4 billion at December 31, 2020. A member of the Federal Reserve System with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Customers Bank is an equal opportunity lender that provides a range of banking and lending services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, individuals and families. Services and products are available wherever permitted by law through digital-first apps, online portals, and a network of offices and branches. Additional information can be found on the company's website, www.customersbank.com.

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.

Photo Caption:

From Left to Right:

AnNette Hines, Director of Cultural Advancement at Customers Bank, Richard Ehst, President and Chief Executive Officer of Customers Bank, and Dr. Susan Looney, President of Reading Area Community College, participated in a check presentation ceremony on Friday, March 12, 2021, to recognize Customers Bank's contribution of $20,000 to create scholarships for dual-enrollment high school students earning early college credits.

Reading, PA, Wednesday, March 10, 2021 – Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) is recognizing over 1000 REACH Rewards chapters across the United States for their efforts to bring the life-changing benefits and opportunities of PTK membership to even more students on their campuses in 2020. Phi Theta Kappa’s REACH Rewards program recognizes and rewards Phi Theta Kappa chapters that excel in membership development.

“Being a REACH chapter is more important this year than ever before as Phi Theta Kappa worked to support community college students in completely unfamiliar circumstances,” PTK President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner said. Although this is a chapter award, it demonstrates that students are more focused on their futures than ever before, and their colleges are providing the opportunities to get them there — even amid a global pandemic.”

A full 91 percent of Phi Theta Kappa members will complete an associate degree or transfer to a four-year college, compared to just 38 percent of students nationally. Members have access to $48 million in scholarships — $1 million in competitive scholarships through the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation and more than $46 million in transfer scholarships to over 850 four-year colleges. They can search for these scholarships and others, as well as transfer-friendly institutions and career pathways, on PTK Connect™.

“Reading Area Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapter, Alpha Sigma Rho was thrilled to learn that we have been identified as a REACH Rewards chapter. Students are invited to join Phi Theta Kappa when they have earned 12 college-level credits with a GPA of 3.6 or higher. In 2020, 125 RACC Students accepted membership in the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Members who choose to participate in our local chapter have the opportunity to hone their research skills through our annual Honors in Action project as well as other chapter activities,” says Danelle Bower, RACC professor of Social Work/Sociology and Phi Theta Kappa advisor.

Students who excel academically at RACC have the opportunity to join Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year colleges. In addition to recognizing scholastic achievement, Phi Theta Kappa also provides members opportunities for scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship. To learn more, call 610-372-4721.

The League for Innovation in the Community College is an international organization with a mission to cultivate innovation in the community college environment.

The League’s Innovation of the Year Awards were devised as a way to recognize significant innovations at board and alliance member colleges. These innovations reflect significant achievements and the continuing renewal of the spirit of innovation and experimentation upon which the League was founded.

The award honors faculty, staff, and administrators who have created and implemented innovative programs, practices, partnerships, policies, and activities that improve the institution’s ability to serve students and the community. This year, the winners from Reading Area Community College are:

• Alayne Fessler - Program Director/Professor, Medical Laboratory Technology Program
• Cathy Weinheimer - Assistant Professor, Health Professions
• Crystal Schilthuis - Assistant Professor, Foundational Studies
• David Brant - Professor, Psychology
• Eleisha Moreno - Coordinator, Foundational Studies
• Kathleen Evans - Assistant Director, Financial Aid/Records
• Kathy Cunningham - Director, Admissions & Enrollment Services
• Kenneth E. Dearstyne, Jr. - Senior Vice President, Finance & Administrative Services
• Kevin Coots - Dean, Academic Affairs
• Linda Bell - Associate Dean, Business
• Michelle Wallace - Director, Nursing Programs
• Patricia Mejabi - Associate Dean, STEM Division
• Patricia Mellor - Coordinator, Financial Aid/Records
• Rhonda Hudak - Director, Community and Academic Engagement
• Stacia Visgarda - Associate Dean, Health Professions