Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) and Wilson College, a four-year institution located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, signed a guaranteed transfer agreement to enable NPRC Associate of Arts in Education Studies and Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education graduates to transfer into Wilson College’s Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education or Bachelor of Arts in Special Education programs with no loss of credit.

The signing took place in December and is effective immediately. Wilson College will accept a maximum of 60 hours of college-level coursework offered by NPRC through this pathway. Such courses may be used to fulfill a portion of Wilson College’s general education curriculum and portions of the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree or Bachelor of Arts in Special Education. The terms help define a pathway for students enrolled in the NPRC’s Paraeducators Pathway Program to move onto Wilson College upon graduation and complete their goal to become a K-12 special education teacher. Ultimately, this is a step for both NPRC and Wilson College towards fulfilling the need for qualified professionals in special education that is problematic not just in Pennsylvania, but around the United States.

The agreement will also allow learners to complete their bachelor’s degree remotely, with a combination of asynchronous and live instruction, and the opportunity to fulfill their student-teaching requirements at the school district they are currently employed in as a paraeducator. Another key attribute of the signing is it helps provide important accessibility for NPRC graduates to complete their goal of leading a classroom of their own someday soon, without having to uproot their career and life to gain access to advanced education. NPRC’s Vice President of Academics, Dr. Ben Malczyk, stated, “What I really love about this pathway from NPRC to Wilson College is it allows paraeducators, who are already working in a school, to remain there while they complete their student-teaching. They are already working in that school and have a strong connection to the learners. The fact that this agreement allows NPRC graduates to stay in their day-jobs, complete student-teaching where they are, complete remaining coursework in the evenings, and grant funding is available to support their education will all help ensure that becoming a teacher is more achievable for our students than ever before.”

Wilson College’s Lynn Newman, Ph.D., Director of Education and Associate Professor of Education, added, “Wilson College is proud to partner with Northern Pennsylvania Regional College in providing an online opportunity for paraprofessionals to earn their bachelor’s degrees and teaching certifications. As a response to the current teacher shortage, Wilson and NPRC are working together to make a difference in the teaching profession.”

NPRC will assist students by providing academic advising that will counsel students to enroll in general education and other prerequisite courses that will prepare students to complete the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education or Bachelor of Arts in Special Education degrees through Wilson College. In addition, NPRC will help students prepare a Wilson College transfer admission application that includes transcript and consent for Wilson College to share academic information with NPRC.

Wilson College and NPRC agree to monitor and support the provisions of this agreement to ensure program consistency, quality, and transferability for the benefit of the students of both institutions. Wilson College and NPRC have also agreed to renegotiate this agreement as necessary due to changes in curriculum or graduation requirements implemented by either institution.
 
For more information about the NPRC Paraeducators Pathways Program and this academic agreement with Wilson College, contact NPRC by email at info@rrcnpa.org.