Reading, Pa. – August 16, 2022 – Alvernia University and Reading Area Community College (RACC) have introduced an expanded dual admissions transfer agreement to facilitate the transfer of RACC students to Alvernia’s Baccalaureate Degree Programs.

“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 President Loyack and Alvernia have committed to a seamless transfer to their bachelor’s degree programs.”

The expanded dual admissions transfer partnership allows students to earn their associate degree at Reading Area Community College and then enroll, with junior standing, at Alvernia University’s main campus in Reading, Pa. or online for other community-based campuses to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree in two years.

“As a university that is deeply committed to transforming the lives of our students and ensuring we have a high quality workforce, we look forward to working with our downtown Reading neighbor RACC,” said Alvernia University President John R. Loyack. “This agreement will not only provide resources and financial assistance to students to transform lives through training and value-based education at Alvernia but will also foster a natural pipeline of skilled graduates to businesses and organizations in Greater Reading, Berks County and eastern Pennsylvania.”

Traditional residential transfer students that declare dual admission will benefit from annual academic scholarships from Alvernia up to $21,000 to help lower the cost of their education. Students enrolling in accelerated adult bachelor programs are eligible for scholarships up to $2,000. Students have a single point of contact in admissions to assist with their transition and receive several communications prior to their community college graduation. Application fees are also waived for dually enrolled students.

Alvernia's expanded Reading Collegiate Scholars Program (RCSP) with RACC began in 2019 with two full-tuition transfer scholarships for qualified RACC graduates and two additional scholarships were added each year, resulting in a total of six transfer students attending in Fall 2021. Recipients must live in the city of Reading, earned an Associate's Degree from RACC, maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and be enrolled full-time in the day academic division.

“After graduating from RACC, I did not know exactly what my next step was going to be, so when I did hear back from Alvernia there was a sense of relief, especially getting this scholarship,” said Jamal Dancy, 2022 RCSP scholarship recipient. “My only wish is that this experience brings hope into the inner-city kids by seeing someone from the city that looks like them and has been through similar things accomplish something, and that they can do it too if they stay focused.”

Alvernia’s expansion into downtown Reading through the Reading CollegeTowne initiative creates new pathways for students to take courses along the Penn Street corridor. More information on this partnership and application instructions can be found at Alvernia.edu.

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Alvernia University is a Catholic comprehensive university with a liberal arts foundation founded by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in 1958. The university serves over 3,000 students in Reading, Pottsville and Philadelphia with a unique blend of rigorous liberal arts education, strong technical training in many high demand majors, ever-expanding experiential learning opportunities through study abroad and internship experiences and community engagement through its Franciscan-based community service model.

Reading Area Community College (RACC) 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.

RACC Signs Guaranteed Transfer Admissions Agreement With Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

READING, PA – On Tuesday, July 26, Reading Area Community College (RACC) signed a guaranteed transfer agreement with Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania in the Miller Center for the Arts on the RACC campus.

RACC and Commonwealth University (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities) established this agreement to ensure qualifying students who graduate from RACC are guaranteed admission to Commonwealth University with at least full junior standing; with a guarantee for a renewable transfer scholarship based on the students' academic performance while enrolled at RACC and Commonwealth University.

"We are celebrating today a new agreement with Commonwealth 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.

Commonwealth University will guarantee on-campus housing at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, or Mansfield campuses for the first year of full-time attendance for transferring students who wish to live on campus.

"Commonwealth University is committed to working with our community college partners to break down traditional barriers to education and ensure students have a clear path to success. This agreement is a shining example of partnership in action," said CU President Bashar Hanna. "I'm thrilled to witness the collaboration between our colleagues at Reading Area Community College and Commonwealth University—their vision and dedication is providing students a seamless transition, along with guaranteed, renewable transfer scholarships. Thank you to all who have made this possible in service to our region's students."

Student scholarships are also an exciting component of the agreement. Commonwealth University will award 4 tiers of transfer scholarships to RACC graduates – Tier 1 (3.50 GPA or above at RACC) will award $5,000 annually, Tier 2 (3.0 – 3.49 GPA at RACC) will award $4,000 annually, Tier 3 (2.50 – 2.99 GPA at RACC) will award $3,000 annually, and Tier 4 (2.0 – 2.49 GPA at RACC) will award $2,000 annually.

"The availability of student scholarships when transferring a RACC associate degree to Commonwealth University's bachelor's degree program 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 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania transfer agreement, or for more information about other transfer opportunities, contact Leora Chernesky at 610.372.4721 x5106, or visit https://www.racc.edu/services/transfer-services.

About Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
With 500 combined years of serving the students of Pennsylvania and beyond, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities have joined together under the banner of Commonwealth University. Our mission is to expand high-quality, affordable academic opportunities to support the needs of all learners. Together, we provide financially responsible degree options that maximize experiential learning, career preparation, and efficient time to degree completion.

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.

Reading Area Community College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michelle Reichard-Huff to its Board of Trustees. Dr. Reichard-Huff is the director of the Office of Early Childhood and Student Services. In 2004, she began working in the BCIU Early Intervention Program as a school psychologist.  She also served as supervisor of student services in early intervention, school-age special education, and alternative education for six years. In 2014, Michelle was appointed as the assistant director of the Office of Early Childhood and Student Services. She served in this role until her appointment to director in November 2017.
 
Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her Educational Specialist degree in school psychology from Lehigh University.  She also completed her supervisory certification at Lehigh and obtained her superintendent’s letter of eligibility through California University of Pennsylvania. Michelle earned her doctorate in Education Administration and Leadership from the California University of Pennsylvania in July 2020. Her Reading Area Community College Board of Trustees term will be eligible for renewal in June, 2027.
 
Reading Area Community College Board of Trustees has also appointed Mr. Jack R. Gombach as the Chair of the Facilities & Risk Management Committee; and as a member of the Executive Committee. Mr. Gombach currently serves as a Government Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy Consultant. He also serves on the boards of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, and the Friends of the Reading Hospital. Jack received a Bachelor’s of Science in International Relations and Affairs from Albright College.

READING, PA – Reading Area Community College received $1 million to assist in the redesigning of Weitz Hall to renovate classroom and lab spaces for its health science programs. The grant was made possible by the Berks County Commissioners as part of an $18 million round of funding through the American Rescue Plan for community improvement projects.

The renovations to existing classrooms and labs are in response to not only local and regional, but also a national, need for expanded training for qualified healthcare workers in a variety of disciplines. Currently, the college offers associate degree programs in registered nursing, respiratory therapy, medical laboratory technician and a new histotechnician program. In addition to degree programs, the college offers a for-credit certificate practical nursing program and several short-term training programs such as home health aide and nurse’s aide. 

“This grant is critical to RACC’s ability to continue serving the community’s growing need for healthcare workers. We are grateful to the Berks County Commissioners for recognizing RACC’s ability to train and educate the future Berks County healthcare workforce,” says RACC President, Dr. Susan Looney.

While a definitive timeline has been established, the planning and design for the renovation project is in progress. To learn more about the health professions programs at Reading Area Community College, visit racc.edu/hp or call 610.607.6224.

Congratulations to 2022 RACC graduate Leisha Gonzalez!

Leisha is the mother of a five-year-old and was a proud work study of the RACC campus. Her parents left formal schooling in middle school, prompting Leisha to be vigilant in pursuing a higher education. At RACC, she found a family, found talented, committed faculty and staff who encouraged her in her studies and also in her personal life. She majored in secondary education as a result of her experiences during the height of the COVID19 pandemic-when she fell in love with tutoring her younger siblings while in quarantine.

“My journey at RACC has been amazing with meeting so many wonderful people and being able to experience so many different things on and off campus. My career goal is to eventually work in the Reading School District as a teacher assistant. I hope to teach students hearts and minds as both a confidant and as an educator,” says Leisha of her career goals after RACC.