Sealing the deal: LHU partners with 20 school districts in effort to boost enrollment

LOCK HAVEN -- Students in Lycoming County and across the state will have an easier time going to college, thanks to an agreement with Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.

Representatives from the three campuses making up Commonwealth U -- Lock Haven, Mansfield and Bloomsburg -- along with representatives from nearly two dozen area high schools signed the agreement Tuesday in the Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center at LHU, which will allow easier accessibility and affordability for students. Scholarships will be easier to obtain for middle- and lower-class households, and students will have easier access to dual-enrollment programs through their high schools, allowing them to graduate college earlier.

"It is a day of celebration for all of us because we chose a path for our own careers that influences, impacts and changes children's trajectory for the future," said Commonwealth University President Dr. Bashar Hanna.

He spoke about the importance of what Commonwealth University is doing, and of future students without the burden of debt.

"It's about the future of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the students that will call your districts home and hopefully call one of our campuses home, while on their way to becoming leaders in their chosen discipline field," Hanna said. "We want to make sure that every local student -- regardless of financial background, whether their family could afford it or not -- the opportunity to earn a college degree without being burdened with debt."

According to Hanna, it is a bright future for the citizens of the commonwealth. More jobs are going to require a post-secondary education in the future.

"Sixty percent of the jobs of the future are going to require some form of post-secondary education and we are here to partner with you to make sure that that your students, our students, our citizens of the commonwealth, are ready to take on the jobs and lead into the future," Hanna said.

Fletcher announced the second speaker, senior vice president of academic affairs and provost of Commonwealth University, Dr. Diana Rogers-Adkinson. Rogers-Adkinson began saying how Commonwealth University plans to help re-create an easier path for students entering into higher education. She also mentioned the dual-enrollment programs that will be available for students.

"We are going to help re-create and easier path for all of them to enter higher education, in a complete and timely fashion, and be able to then be entering the workforce in a very quick and easy ways. We have dual credit programs as well that are helping students … with these scholarships, they will continue in completing a degree at a much more affordable rate and a much more timely fashion," she said.

Dr. Stephen Lee, vice president of dual enrollment management, mentioned the enrollment management division of Commonwealth University and its "ambitious and important roles."

The roles at play, Lee said, include reducing tuition costs, reducing the amount of financial need a student has after their financial aid has been applied for, increasing first and second year retention and increase in graduation.

Lee and the Dual Enrollment Management looks to provide assistance to students as early as the high school process. They will provide them with assistance of recruitment, admissions, financial aid and all the steps once they get to Lock Haven University and Commonwealth University, Lee said.

"Your students will be able to take courses across three campuses of Commonwealth University as early as their sophomore and junior year of high school and ideally complete enough credits that a three year or three and a half year degree is obtainable," he said. "We are looking to provide the assistance that you need and ensure that students have a vision for college and are able to achieve it."

Once the speakers representing Commonwealth University finished, the signage of the agreement between the schools and districts commenced. The 20 school districts that signed included Bald Eagle Area by Superintendent Curt Whitesel and assistant principal Marilee Close; Bellefonte by Superintendent Tammie Burnaford and high school principal Michael Feddison; Clearfield by Superintendent Terry Struble; Curwensville by Superintendent Ronald A. Matchock and secondary principal William Hayward; DuBois Area by Superintendent Wendy Benton; Glendale by Superintendent Vivian Ekchian; Jersey Shore Area by Superintendent Dr. Brian T. Ulmer; Keystone Central by Superintendent Dr. Jacquelyn Martin and principal Nick Verrelli; Loyalsock Township by principal Matthew Reitz and Superintendent Gerald McLaughlin; Montoursville by principal Matthew Johnson and Superintendent Christina Bason; Moshannon Valley by Superintendent John Zesiger and principal Tracie Tomasko; Penns Valley by Superintendent Brian Griffith; Philipsburg-Osceola by assistant principal Julie Bravin and Superintendent Dr. Gregg Paladina; South Williamsport by principal Jesse Smith, assistant principal Scott Hill and Superintendent Eric Briggs; State College Area by Spring Creek principal Paul Brigman, Grays Woods principal Kristen L. Dewitt, interim Superintendent Curtis Johnson and State High principal Laura S. Tobias; Sugar Valley Charter by CEO Tracie Kennedy; West Branch by Superintendent Michelle Dutrow and principal Brandy O'Hare; and Williamsport by Superintendent Timothy S. Bowers. Other districts joining the agreement include Canton Area, Southern Tioga, Sullivan County, Wellsboro Area, Warrior Run, Milton, Millville and Northern Tioga, among others.