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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.

January 9. 2023 — Reading Area Community College (RACC) and Villanova University, College of Professional Studies (CPS) entered into a Guaranteed Admission and Transfer Agreement on Friday, January 6 in a signing ceremony in the Miller Center for the Arts on the RACC campus.

The agreement will facilitate the transfer of RACC students to all majors offered through CPS exclusively under the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies.

"We are proudly celebrating this new agreement with Villanova University, which will open many new doors of opportunity for our graduates," says Dr. Susan Looney, RACC president. “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."

"This new transfer agreement between Reading Area Community College and Villanova University College of Professional Studies is an exciting step forward,” says Christine Kelleher Palus, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “Every day in CPS we strive to allow greater access to a rigorous Villanova education, and we are thrilled to welcome RACC graduates to our community of learners. To our future students, with a solid educational foundation at RACC and a bachelor’s degree from Villanova, where you’ve been is just the beginning.”

Eligible students with an overall grade point average of 3.0 to 3.49 will receive a 20% tuition reduction, and those with a 3.5 to 4.0 will receive a 25% tuition reduction for each course taken at CPS.

"The new admissions agreement between Reading Area Community College and Villanova will expand access to our college's transformative education for our students. This partnership will provide a direct pathway to a Villanova degree for the talented graduates of RACC programs," says Kristen Marcinko, RACC director of academic partnerships.

In addition to tuition reduction, CPS may also offer Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) scholarships for qualified graduates admitted to CPS.

To learn more about the RACC and CPS and other transfer opportunities, visit the Transfer Services page.

Addressing a 16-year-high in global talent shortages, a new seamless path from associate to master’s degree has been created through an articulation agreement between Reading Area Community College (RACC) and the Albright College School of Professional Studies. The agreement enables community college graduates to earn a master’s degree in a little over two years, as compared to the 10-year national average. Academic scholarships will be awarded to qualified RACC students admitted to Albright.

“This innovative new pathway is the first of its kind, and it couldn’t come at a more important time,” said Albright President Jacquelyn S. Fetrow, Ph.D.

President Fetrow speaks during an event announcing the RACC to Albright agreement.

President Fetrow explains how the new Associate to Master’s Degree agreement creates a seamless transition for RACC associate degree graduates to transition to Albright bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Photo by John Pankratz.

Although a small number of pathways exist for associate degree students to earn advanced degrees in a single field of study (such as nursing), the RACC-to-Albright pathway addresses skilled labor shortages across a range of fields, from business and marketing, to psychology research, and education.

Right now, three out of four employers across all major industries are reporting difficulty finding the talent they need.” said Fetrow. “This fall, the National Education Association estimated a shortage of roughly 300,000 teachers and staff across the nation, particularly in rural districts and where special education and STEM teachers are in high demand. This new pathway aims to address that shortage and others like it, by helping working adults shift into high demand roles more quickly.”

“We’ve built this innovative pathway to empower adults to earn multiple degrees at a top-ranked institution, faster and for less than just a bachelor’s degree at most other colleges,” said Boris Vilic, dean of Albright’s School of Professional Studies. “The pathway allows students to complete a bachelor’s and master’s for the cost of a single degree at another college.”

Building on a previously established Guaranteed Transfer Admissions agreement for RACC associate graduates to earn bachelor’s degrees at Albright, the new Associate to Master’s Degree agreement creates a seamless transition for associate degree graduates to transition to bachelor’s degrees, followed by master’s degree programs at Albright.

Pictured (left to right): Boris Vilic, Karen Campbell, Jacque Fetrow, Susan Looney, Cynthia Seaman and Kevin Coots.
Signers include (left to right) Boris Vilic, Karen Campbell, Jacque Fetrow, Susan Looney, Cynthia Seaman and Kevin Coots. Photo by John Pankratz.

“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 master’s degree programs,” said RACC President, Susan Looney, Ed.D., J.D.

While the length of time for students to complete Albright bachelor’s and master’s degrees vary by degree program, most RACC associate degree graduates can complete their bachelor’s degree within two years of part-time study. Albright College master’s degrees are designed to be completed in one year.

Reading Area Community College graduates will complete as few as eight classes for their Albright bachelor’s degree (compared to an average of 20 classes at other institutions) and 10 classes for their Albright master’s degree. The seamless transfer applies to any of Albright’s graduate level degrees: Master of Arts/Master of Science in Education, Master of Science in Business, Master of Science in athletic leadership and Master of Science in applied psychology.

“As anchor institutions in Berks County, Albright College and Reading Area Community College are proud to work together to offer world-class educational opportunities for the betterment of our community’s families and businesses,” said Fetrow.

Reading, PA – On Monday, September 19, Reading Area Community College (RACC) signed a guaranteed transfer agreement with Muhlenberg College in the River Room of the Yocum Library on the RACC campus.

RACC and the Muhlenberg College School of Continuing Studies entered into a program-to-program agreement for RACC students planning to transfer to Muhlenberg College School of Continuing Studies Accelerated Degree Programs. RACC graduates with an Associate in Arts Degree, Associate in Science Degree or Associate in Applied Science Degree in a major aligned with one of Muhlenberg College School of Continuing Studies Accelerated Degree Programs. A RACC student admitted with an earned associate's degree in one of the designated curriculums will be able to complete a bachelor's degree in a parallel program at the School of Continuing Studies within 22 months.

"We are celebrating today a new agreement with Muhlenberg College’s, 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.

In addition, students who are admitted under this agreement will be eligible to receive $1,500 per academic year. Current members of Phi Theta Kappa at RACC at their time of transfer will be eligible to receive an additional $500 per academic year.

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

"The availability of student scholarships when transferring a RACC associate degree to Muhlenberg College'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 transfer agreement, or for more information about other transfer opportunities, contact Leora Chernesky 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 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Muhlenberg College aims to develop independent critical thinkers who are intellectually agile, characterized by a zest for reasoned and civil debate, committed to understanding the diversity of the human experience, able to express ideas with clarity and grace, committed to lifelong learning, equipped with ethical and civic values and prepared for lives of leadership and service.

The College is committed to providing an intellectually rigorous education within the context of an inclusive and diverse campus; we strongly believe that diversity is essential to learning and to our success as a pluralistic community. Our curriculum integrates the traditional liberal arts with selected preprofessional studies. Our faculty are passionate about teaching, value close relationships with students and are committed to the pedagogical and intellectual importance of research.

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.