Four Penn State campuses sign articulation agreement with Northampton CC

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By Mary Kate Maguire

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Administrative leadership from four of Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses - Hazleton, Lehigh Valley, Schuylkill and Wilkes-Barre - and Northampton Community College (NCC) signed an articulation agreement to facilitate the transfer of NCC students into various degree programs at the four Commonwealth Campuses.

Tina Q. Richardson, chancellor of Penn State Lehigh Valley; Lynda Goldstein, chancellor of Penn State Wilkes-Barre; Cory Scherer, interim chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill; and David A. Ruth, NCC president, were present for the event held at Penn State Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

The articulation agreement defines a direct route for students to complete a baccalaureate degree from any of the four aforementioned Penn State Commonwealth Campuses.

Students who earn an associate of arts (A.A.), associate of science (A.S.), or associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degree in a transfer program, maintain good standing, and achieve a minimum GPA of 2.00, will be eligible for admission to a parallel baccalaureate degree program at Penn State Hazleton, Lehigh Valley, Schuylkill or Wilkes-Barre. Admission to specific academic programs may also require the successful completion of designated course requirements. When transferring to Penn State, NCC students must complete an application for admission, submit the required transcripts and meet Penn State's admission criteria. The application fee for baccalaureate programs will be waived for NCC students.

"Our partnership with Northampton Community College (NCC) is critical to the success of both institutions in educating today's workforce," said Richardson. "Together, we enable students to seamlessly pursue an associate degree and complete a bachelor's degree locally at Penn State. This is one of the most compelling and affordable ways to provide a pipeline to the workforce and support the local economy."

"I am excited about the articulation agreement with NCC," Scherer said. "I know that a lot of hard work has gone into this agreement, and we are excited to easier serve the students of NCC."

Goldstein said, "Students graduating from Northampton Community College are well prepared to continue their educational journeys, and transfer agreements such as this one provide students with an affordable pathway to a Penn State degree at a commonwealth campus."

"We greatly value partnerships with community colleges such as Northampton Community College," said Elizabeth Wright, regional chancellor of Penn State Scranton, Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre. "This agreement is representative of this partnership, as it provides a clear path for students to apply their associate degree coursework towards earning a bachelor's degree."

Margo DelliCarpini, Penn State's vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor, affirmed the alignment this agreement demonstrates in the University's dedication to its land-grant mission.

"This new articulation agreement between four Penn State campuses within our University College and Northampton Community College creates a wonderful opportunity for students in our local communities to progress towards baccalaureate degree completion," DelliCarpini said. "We are thrilled to have this agreement in place in support of our strategic priority of land-grant access and impact, and we look forward to providing students with this new pathway to meet their academic and professional goals."

Ruth said, "As a college deeply committed to our community, expanding affordable access to higher education is at the heart of our mission, This articulation agreement strengthens our longstanding relationship with Penn State, providing our students with a seamless pathway to continue their educational journey at several Penn State Commonwealth Campuses. Through this partnership, our graduates will have access to the same high-quality, affordable education at Penn State that they experienced at NCC."

For additional information about academic programs, scholarship opportunity, or other campus resources, contact the admissions office at NCC at 610-861-5500 or a participating Penn State Commonwealth Campus admissions office.

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