City colleges extend successful tuition-exchange program

Published 12.02.2022

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Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lycoming College are extending a tuition-exchange pilot program that may benefit full-time employees at both city institutions – as well as their dependent children and spouses/partners.

The pilot program has supported employee recruitment and retention at both institutions; the extension is expected to perpetuate those efforts. Program eligibility will be offered to full-time employees – or dependent children or spouses/partners – as determined by each institution. A memorandum of understanding, signed this month by the presidents of both colleges, authorizes a longer-standing tuition-exchange program to continue the piloted effort, which has run since 2019-20. The new agreement takes effect with the 2023-24 academic year.

The program is open to undergraduate students seeking a first certificate, associate degree or bachelor’s degree at Penn College, or a first bachelor’s degree at Lycoming College. Up to three students at each college may be enrolled per academic year. Selection is made by the individual institutions, and all eligibility requirements within the employee’s home institution tuition policy will apply.

“The tuition-exchange program has been a boon to recruitment and retention, offering an increased tuition benefit for employees to provide for their children’s education and for students to attain an education they might not have been able to otherwise,” said Penn College President Michael J. Reed. “The program also reinforces the bonds we already share with our crosstown higher-education partner including cross-registration, expanded access to our Community Arts Center and a variety of co-sponsored community events. We are pleased to formally extend this mutually beneficial initiative.”

“During the first three years of this new program, employees of both PCT and Lycoming College have benefited from this additional tuition exchange option and we are very pleased to extend the program,” said Lycoming College President Kent C. Trachte. “The positive response from employees and prospective employees has been gratifying. Even more, we are pleased to continue programs and initiatives that demonstrate the ways in which PCT and Lycoming College have developed a collaborative partnership with transformative benefits for our employees.”

In addition to tuition exchange, Penn College and Lycoming College partner for cross-registration, which allows students to pursue courses – or activities – beyond those offered at their own institution.

With cross-registration through Lycoming College, Penn College students may learn a foreign language or explore philosophy, religion, music or theater. Similarly, Lycoming College students can engage in hands-on, lab-intensive courses – everything from culinary and collision repair to automated manufacturing, building construction and landscape/horticulture.

Lycoming College has also partnered with Penn College since 2016 for expanded access to the Community Arts Center to present performing arts, academic and community outreach events like band and choral performances, recitals, musicals and music galas, guest speakers, film series, and more.

About Lycoming College
Founded in 1812, Lycoming College is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected liberal arts colleges. Today, our community of 1,200 active learners from 31 states and territories and 15 countries comprises a student body that is 35 percent domestic students of color or international, all of whom work with our renowned scholars to craft customized combinations of market-driven majors, minors and concentrations across our 40+ academic programs. Students compete in 19 NCAA Division III sports, participate in faculty-driven research, thrive in a robust program of internship experiences, and study abroad in more than two dozen countries. Lycoming College has one of the highest endowment-per-student ratios in the country. The institution is a member of the Annapolis Group of Liberal Arts Colleges and is recognized by The Princeton Review as one of The 388 Best Colleges. Lycoming College is dedicated to providing a high-quality liberal arts and sciences education for all students.

About Pennsylvania College of Technology
Pennsylvania College of Technology traces its origins to nationally acclaimed workforce-education efforts launched at Williamsport High School in 1914 and later formalized at Williamsport Technical Institute (1941-65) and Williamsport Area Community College (1965-89). In 1989, an act of the state Legislature created Pennsylvania College of Technology, a special mission affiliate of Penn State. As a national leader in applied technology education, Penn College enrolls more than 4,200 students in approximately 100 STEM-focused programs featuring hands-on learning in 150-plus labs. Small class sizes, faculty with real-world experience and robust industry partnerships contribute to the college’s 96% placement rate. A full college experience includes on-campus housing, student clubs and organizations, and Greek Life opportunities. The college is a member of NCAA Division III, offering 15 Wildcat athletic teams. In the 2022-23 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, among Regional Colleges North, Penn College was No. 4 for Top Public Schools, No. 2 in Best Colleges for Veterans and Best Undergraduate Teaching, and No. 3 for Most Innovative Schools.