OCC Announces Transfer Agreements with Two Historically Black Colleges and Universities on First Day of Black History Month

Onondaga Community College signed transfer agreements with two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), giving students a new, seamless pathway to a bachelor’s degree. The agreements are with Lincoln University (PA) and Johnson C. Smith University.

About the Schools:

Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) is located in Charlotte, NC. In 2020 it was ranked the top private HBCU in the state of North Carolina by U.S. News & World Report. JCSU offers a progressive curriculum with 24 fields of study to nearly 1,500 students who come from a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds.

Lincoln University (LU) is known as the nation’s first degree-granting HBCU. It is located in Pennsylvania, about 50 miles west of Philadelphia. Founded in 1854, Lincoln University is committed to active and collaborative learning, global engagement and citizenship, and social responsibility. In 2022, Lincoln was ranked the Best HBCU in Pennsylvania by UniversityHQ.org.

About the Transfer Agreements:

·         Johnson C. Smith University: OCC Students who complete their associate degrees with a minimum 2.0 grade point average will have a seamless pathway to enter JCSU with full junior standing in most programs. Students who enroll in a full-time course load will receive at least $8,000 in aid.

·         Lincoln University: OCC students who complete their associate degrees with a minimum 2.0 grade point average will be eligible to transfer seamlessly with junior status into programs in the School of Social Sciences and Behavioral Studies, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and the School of Humanities.

About HBCUs:

·         Nine of the top 10 colleges that graduate most of the African American students who go on to earn Ph.D.s are HBCUs.

·         More than 50% of the nation’s African American public school teachers and 70% of African American dentists and physicians earned degrees at HBCUs.

·         Over half of all African American professionals are graduates of HBCUs.

(source: www.hbcualumnicle.com)

“I am a big believer in both the power of education to transform lives and partnerships. There is no limit to what we can accomplish when we work together. These transfer agreements with Johnson C. Smith University and Lincoln University will give our students valuable educational options which will change their lives and the lives of their families,” said OCC President Dr. Warren Hilton.

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Onondaga Community College, Central New York’s partner in education for success, is a two-year college located on a 280-acre campus in Syracuse, NY. OCC is a SUNY (State University of New York) school and is locally sponsored by Onondaga County. We are the first public college in the nation to partner with Barnes & Noble College on the “Box of Books” program which provides students with flat-rate, predictable pricing for textbooks and technology. OCC is an Achieving the Dream college and was named “Military Friendly” and “Best For Vets” for our service to student veterans. The College’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility has earned recognition as a “Green College” by the Princeton Review, a “Cool School” by the Sierra Club and a “Sustainable Campus” by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. A report titled “The Economic Value of Onondaga Community College” shows students enjoy an attractive 21.7% rate of return on their educational investment. For every dollar of support from state and local governments, taxpayers see a return of $3.90 on their investments. The average annual rate of return for taxpayers is 9.3%. OCC’s 15 athletics teams have won 16 national championships. Learn more about the College at www.sunyocc.edu. Listen to our podcast, “Chatting About College,” on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you download podcasts from.

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