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LHU partners with 20 school districts in effort to boost enrollment

By CHASE BOTTORF cbottorf@lockhaven.com 5 min read

LOCK HAVEN -- Lock Haven University held a signing agreement ceremony between regional school districts and the Commonwealth Universities of Pennsylvania.

Held Monday in the Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center at LHU, the three universities including Mansfield and Bloomsburg Universities, and representatives from about 20 school districts, signed the agreement, which will allow easier accessibility and affordability for students. Scholarships will be easier to obtain for middle and lower class households. Students will also have easier access to dual-enrollment programs through their high schools, allowing them to graduate college earlier.

The DACC was filled with members of school districts across Pennsylvania ready to sign an agreement that would help future students relieve possible debt.

Tom Fletcher, the Senior Advisor to the President for Strategic Partnerships and Commonwealth University kicked off the ceremony by addressing the President of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Bashar Hanna.

"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," Hanna said.

He spoke about the importance of what the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is doing and future students without the burdening 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 or not, has the opportunity to earn a college degree without being burdened with debt."

According to Hanna, with the signing ceremony, 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 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 the duel-enrollment programs that will be available for students.

"We are going to help re-create an 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 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.

Fletcher announced the final speaker of the afternoon, Vice President on Dual Enrollment Management, Dr. Stephen Lee. He mentioned the enrollment management division of Commonwealth University and its "ambitious and important roles."

The roles at play, according to Lee 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 Universities, according to Lee.

"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/Compliance Officer/Title IX Coordinator, Curt Whitesel and Assistant Principal, Marilee Close; Bellefonte by Superintendent, Tammie Burnaford and High School Principal Michael Fedisson; 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 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 Principal (Spring Creek), Paul Brigman, Principal (Grays Woods), Kristen L. Dewitt, Interim Superintendent, Curtis Johnson, and Principal (State High), 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.

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