Partnership Allows Up To 90 Credits Of Transfer For Online Bachelor’s Degree
Posted January 9, 2020 at 8:28 amDuring a digital signing and news conference, 14 Pennsylvania community college presidents announced a new partnership and articulation agreement with Southern New Hampshire University.
Under the agreement, students from all 14 Pennsylvania community colleges will be able to transfer up to 90 credits to Southern New Hampshire University and complete their bachelor’s degree online with a 10 percent tuition reduction.
“The mission of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is, in part, to provide affordable opportunities at gaining the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in today’s workforce,” stated Dr. Steve Nunez, President of Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. “With even more jobs requiring some higher education, this articulation agreement with Southern New Hampshire University provides a great opportunity for students to earn a bachelor’s degree after completing up to 90 credit hours at Penn Highlands.”
Of the 90 credits that may be transferred toward an online bachelor’s degree, applicable military training is considered. The agreement also applies to employees and immediate family members of employees from all Pennsylvania community colleges. The 14 community college presidents hope that the agreement will help Pennsylvania achieve its attainment goal of 60 percent of Pennsylvanians aged 25-64 with a postsecondary degree or industry-recognized credential by 2025.
“At Southern New Hampshire University, we seek to streamline the transfer process for community college graduates across the nation and we are excited to team up with all 14 community colleges in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Jennifer Batchelor, D.Mgt., Vice President of Academic Programs, Global Campus, Southern New Hampshire University. “Through this new partnership, students will be able to continue on a transformational journey, which will not only impact their lives but also those of their families and communities.”
The agreement will provide transfer students the opportunity to pursue an online bachelor’s degree at a rate more affordable than many other public options in Pennsylvania, depending on the student’s program of study and credit load. At the time of signing, the partnership between Pennsylvania’s community colleges and Southern New Hampshire University represents the only statewide articulation agreement of its kind in the Commonwealth.
“I am pleased that our students have been afforded this opportunity to conveniently earn a bachelor’s degree at a reasonable price,” stated Dr. Nunez.
Southern New Hampshire University is already a popular transfer destination for Pennsylvania’s community college students, with more than 1,500 community college students currently enrolled. Nearly 500 Pennsylvania community college students transferred to Southern New Hampshire University in the 2018 – 2019 academic year, and Southern New Hampshire University awarded 166 Pennsylvania community college graduates a bachelor’s degree last year. Currently enrolled transfer students from Pennsylvania community colleges are eligible for the 10 percent tuition reduction. Under the terms of the articulation agreement, new community college transfer applicants will receive a waiver of the standard application fee to Southern New Hampshire University.
“Thousands of articulation agreements are already in place with higher education partners here in Pennsylvania to help students realize their postsecondary achievement goals and we fully expect those longstanding partnerships to continue,” said Elizabeth Bolden, President & CEO of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges. “The academic preparation, success, and focus of Pennsylvania’s community college students is appealing to many national higher education institutions, as these students are typically motivated and high-performing.”