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First Posted: 4/20/2015
NANTICOKE — Luzerne County Community College and East Stroudsburg University have entered into two new agreements that will help area students complete their academic degrees.
A Dual Admissions Agreement between LCCC and East Stroudsburg was signed at a board of trustees meeting at LCCC Monday night.
The agreement will guarantee students enrollment as juniors in a parallel articulated bachelor’s degree program at ESU. Students who decide to transfer to ESU within one year of graduation from LCCC can choose from several majors, including criminal justice and environmental science, under the agreement.
In order to take advantage of the Dual Admissions Agreement, LCCC students are required to complete a dual admissions intent form before completing 30 credits or by the beginning of their third semester at LCCC. Students must graduate from LCCC with an associate’s degree and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and enroll at ESU within one year of LCCC graduation. They may not attend another institution between the time they graduate from LCCC and begin enrollment at ESU.
A full-time student who has completed the appropriate associate’s degree program at LCCC may be able to complete a bachelor’s degree at ESU within four regular semesters. Exceptions to this are programs with extended internships and clinical experiences, as well as majors for which some sequential requirements are not offered at Luzerne.
“We are thrilled to have this partnership with LCCC,” Marcia Welsh, President of ESU, said, also stating that the program is ESU’s first such cooperative agreement. “Dual admission gives students the opportunity to transfer to ESU without losing credits and continue to forge their paths to success.”
A Reverse Transfer Agreement was also finalized at the meeting, which will allow students to transfer credits from ESU towards the completion of an associate’s degree at LCCC.
In order to take advantage of the Reverse Transfer Agreement, students must have earned a minimum of 30 credits at LCCC and must have a minimum 2.0 grade point average and be/have been in good standing at both institutions. Students may transfer no more than 30 credits with a “C” or better grade toward their LCCC degree requirements.
Welsh said the program will introduce students at LCCC to the four-year college experience early, and that students who earn their associate’s degree very often go on to receive their bachelor’s.
Lynn Distasio, who was reappointed to the board of trustees after serving on the board six years ago, looks forward to seeing students find more opportunities to further their education as a result of the agreements.
“I think it’s terrific. It will help students prepare for the next level,” Distasio said.