College and University Partnership Paves New Path for Students

An innovative partnership between Northampton Community College (NCC) and regional colleges will keep students on a pathway to a college degree with a variety of transfer agreements that will benefit students whose journey to higher education may have been interrupted. 

Through the pilot program entitled “It’s Not Over,” first-year students who did not return to their university will have the opportunity and encouragement to persist at a community college in their service area and return to the university upon receipt of their associate’s degree. Students who were not retained by Kutztown University or East Stroudsburg University will receive information to help them navigate their credits to NCC or Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC), otherwise known as reverse transfer, to earn an associate’s degree.

In order to take advantage of the full tuition benefit of the community colleges, the students must live in the counties that are served by the respective community colleges – Lehigh, Carbon and Schuylkill counties for LCCC, and Northampton and Monroe Counties for NCC. 

In addition, students who earned more than 60 credits from one of the universities more than five years ago will receive information on how to move those credits to the community college for an associate’s degree and then a subsequent bachelor’s or to earn credits that will transfer.

The project stemmed from further discussions the presidents had after the signing of the statewide pledge in April confirming that community colleges and universities in the PASSHE system would work together for the benefit of students. The pledge was drafted to demonstrate the commitment to provide high quality affordable academic and career education programs and to contribute to the development of a highly skilled competitive workforce in the Commonwealth. 

“This unique regional partnership is all about helping students succeed,” said David A. Ruth, president of Northampton Community College. “It can help students stay on track to earn a degree while at the same time support the workforce needs of regional employers. It’s a real win-win for the community.” 

For information on “It’s Not Over,” contact NCC’s Office of Admissions at 610-861-5300 or adminfo@northampton.edu.