CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Administrators from Penn State and Northampton Community College (NCC) signed an articulation agreement to facilitate the transfer of NCC students into 11 baccalaureate degree programs at 14 Penn State campuses, including Penn State Lehigh Valley, Penn State Hazleton, Penn State Schuylkill, Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Penn State Worthington Scranton. The agreement is effective this spring and was announced by Madlyn L. Hanes, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor at Penn State; Penny Carlson, executive director for academic services and assessment at Penn State; Tina Q. Richardson, chancellor at Penn State Lehigh Valley; Gary M. Lawler, chancellor at Penn State Hazleton; and Mark H. Erickson, president of Northampton Community College; at an event held Wednesday, Jan. 18, at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
Madlyn Hanes, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor; Gary Lawler, chancellor of Penn State Hazleton; and Mark Erickson, president of Northampton Community College (NCC), joined Penn State Lehigh Valley Chancellor Tina Q. Richardson in signing an articulation agreement that will facilitate the transfer of NCC students into 11 degree programs at 14 Penn State campuses. H. Durell Johnson, chief academic officer at Penn State Worthington Scranton, and John Drake, director of the Center for Business Development and Community Outreach at Penn State Worthington Scranton, were also in attendance.
“Enhancing access and affordability to higher education is a shared goal of Penn State and Northampton Community College,” said Hanes. “This agreement will further that goal by providing a pathway for NCC students to complete their associate degrees at Northampton and transition to a local Penn State campus to complete their baccalaureate degrees. “
“The articulation agreement between Penn State and Northampton Community College will only enhance the opportunities available to students from the region to have streamlined access to high quality education,” said Richardson. “I look forward to how this agreement will ease the transfer process for students.”
Lawler said, "The articulation agreement was a natural step toward our mutual goal of providing an excellent education to students in our region and beyond. I'd particularly like to recognize the efforts of Kenneth Thigpen, director of academic advising at Penn State Lehigh Valley; and Mark Henry, director of advising, transfer and accommodation services at Northampton Community College; and other staff who were instrumental in facilitating the articulation agreement."
“This agreement with Penn State expands access to students seeking higher education, which is the core of our mission at Northampton Community College,” said Erickson. “Our students will now have even more options when it comes to completing a bachelor’s degree. We’re excited to partner with Penn State to offer a seamless transition to our students seeking to further their education.”
Through the agreements, students who earn their associate degree will be provided an academic pathway to transfer into a parallel bachelor’s degree program at the 14 campuses. The coordination of transferable coursework, supported through academic advising, will support the successful transition for students.
When transferring to Penn State, NCC students must apply for admission, submit required transcripts and meet Penn State’s admissions requirements. Penn State application fees will be waived for NCC students who apply for baccalaureate programs.
From left to right: Tina Q. Richardson, chancellor at Penn State Lehigh Valley; Madlyn L. Hanes, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor at Penn State; Mark H. Erickson, president of Northampton Community College; and Gary M. Lawler, chancellor at Penn State Hazleton, exchanged gifts of campus-branded baseball caps and mugs to celebrate the articulation agreement at an event on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Lehigh Valley campus.
For more information about academic and scholarship options, contact the admissions office at NCC or at a Penn State campus.
Media inquiries may be directed to NCC at 610-861-5336 and to Penn State Lehigh Valley at 610-285-5018.
Dennille Schuler
Public Relations Specialist
Penn State Lehigh Valley
