ESU Backup Insider

The presidents, provosts and deans of East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) and Northampton Community College (NCC) will meet at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, February 1, to finalize a new partnership that will fast track the completion of bachelor degree programs in business administration and provide a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) completion program option right on NCC’s Bethlehem campus.

“ESU is very fortunate to have such a great relationship with President Erickson and his NCC team,” said Dr. Welsh, president of ESU. “This partnership has been a long time coming and we are grateful for the opportunities this program offers NCC students.  These rewarding programs enable students to continue their studies on NCC’s campus and allow them to accelerate their degree completion in an affordable way that fits their lifestyles and gives them an advantage in a very competitive job market.”

The agreement, which will be signed by ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., and NCC President Mark Erickson, Ph.D., will take place on NCC’s main campus in Bethlehem in Alumni Hall, Gates Center, Room 130.  Finalization of this partnership will enable students in NCC’s business administration program to earn both an associates degree in business administration from NCC and a bachelor’s degree in business management from ESU in just three years by taking courses year-round. All ESU courses are offered at the NCC Bethlehem campus. Each course meets for one three-hour block per week which will enable students to plan work and family commitments around their class schedules.

The agreement also allows NCC students graduating from its registered nursing (RN) program to transfer seamlessly to ESU’s Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) program, which will offer flexible evening part-time and full-time options for working nurses who need to meet the BSN requirement for employment. Students who begin the courses required for the bachelor’s degree in the spring will be able to complete it in 18 months.

Founded in 1893, ESU is one of the 14 institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. ESU offers 56 undergraduate degrees and 24 graduate degrees.  For more information about accelerated degree completion programs, contact Millie Román-Buday, ESU’s extended learning admission coordinator, at mroman@esu.edu or 610-419-2516.  More than 85 students transferred from NCC to ESU last year.