Reading Area Community College signs admissions agreement with Commonwealth University

David Mekeel, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·2 min read

Jul. 30—Reading Area Community College students will now be able to seamlessly move on to Commonwealth University thanks to a new transfer admissions agreement between the two schools.

Commonwealth University is the new name for the consolidated Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities, which have been merged by the Pennsylvania System of Higher Education.

Dr. Susan Looney, RACC president, and Bashar Hanna, president of Commonwealth University, signed the agreement Tuesday during a ceremony at the Miller Center for the Arts on Tuesday.

"We are celebrating today a new agreement with Commonwealth University, which will open many new doors of opportunity for our graduates," Looney said in a statement announcing the agreement. "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."

The agreement will ensure that qualifying RACC graduates are guaranteed admission to Commonwealth University with at least junior standing. Transfer students will be guaranteed on-campus housing at Bloomsburg, Lock Haven of Mansfield for at least their first year of full-time attendance.

The agreement also includes scholarships for RACC graduates. They will be provided in four tiers:

—Graduates with a grade point average of 3.5 or above will be awarded $5,000 annually.

—Graduates with a grade point average of 3.0 to 3.49 will be awarded $4,000 annually.

—Graduates with a grade point average of 2.5 to 2.99 will be awarded $3,000 annually.

—Graduates with a grade point average of 2.0 to 2.49 will be awarded $2,000 annually.

Hanna said the agreement shows how institutions of higher learning working together can benefit students.

"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," he said in the statement announcing the agreement. "This agreement is a shining example of partnership in action. 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."

For more information about the transfer agreement contact Leora Chernesky at 610-372-4721 extension 5106 or visit racc.edu/services/transfer-services.