(Posted November 17, 2020)

HARRISBURG and HUNTINGDON, Pa. – John J. “Ski” Sygielski, MBA, Ed.D., president and CEO of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, and James A. Troha, Ph.D., president of Juniata College, signed an updated agreement Nov. 17, 2020, that offers guaranteed admission to Juniata College for HACC associate-degree graduates to pursue their bachelor’s degree in four programs.

In March 2020, HACC and Juniata College signed a transfer agreement that includes a goal to admit at least 10 HACC transfer students to Juniata College each year. Juniata College will provide HACC transfer students up to $28,000 per year via a merit-based scholarship.  

The signing of the updated college pathways program agreement supports HACC associate-degree graduates in business administration, communication, environmental science, or psychology as they pursue their bachelor’s degree at Juniata College.  

“I am pleased that many of our regional prestigious four-year private colleges, such as Juniata College, remain interested in updating our program agreements. I was especially pleased to sign this transfer agreement because it will offer HACC’s academically strong students financial incentives to complete their bachelor’s degree in a similar ‘student-centered’ environment in two years while minimizing their undergraduate debt,” Sygielski said.

“This formalized partnership presents a tremendous opportunity for both HACC and Juniata College. Connecting curricular offerings to create a seamless transfer will position HACC graduates to complete a bachelor’s degree in two years and a graduate degree in three,” said Jason Moran, vice president for enrollment at Juniata.

“While this partnership is beginning with academic pathways in business, communication, environmental science, and psychology, it lays down the foundation to explore and build additional academic pathways for future students, which is very exciting,” Moran said.

The transfer agreement between the two institutions includes the following:

  • HACC transfer students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 are guaranteed admission to one of Juniata College’s four college pathway programs.
  • HACC transfer students with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher are eligible to receive a $28,000 merit-based scholarship per year.
  • HACC transfer students with a cumulative GPA between 3.0-3.49 are eligible to receive a $24,000 merit-based scholarship per year.
  • HACC transfer students who are Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) members will receive a scholarship of $2,000 per year.
  • HACC transfer students will receive an application waiver, priority course registration, priority housing registration, and collaborative advising.
  • HACC transfer students will be offered a one-time additional $1,000 scholarship for one campus visit.

About HACC HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges. HACC offers approximately 100 career and transfer associate degree, certificate, and diploma programs to approximately 17,000 students. Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), follow us on Instagram (@HACC_edu), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64), and use #HACCNews.  

About Juniata College Founded in 1876, Juniata is an independent, co-educational college of liberal arts and sciences that draws students from more than 35 U.S. states and dozens of nations in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and South America. Juniata’s exceptional programs in science and education; innovative business and international studies offerings; signature programs in peace studies, museum studies, and integrated media arts; and experience-driven humanities offerings pair with the Juniata College Curriculum’s focus on local and global engagement. Students use the College’s Program of Emphasis (POE) system to work with two faculty advisers to pursue varied interests and talents.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.