For Immediate Release Contact:
Beth Wales, Maria College: 518-861-2506
Cindy Lawrence, Gramercy Communications: 518-326-6400
SUNY Schenectady County Community College Announces Partnership with Maria College Agreements ease transfer between
SUNY SCCC’s and Maria College’s Healthcare Programs
SCHENECTADY NY– SUNY Schenectady County Community College (“SUNY SCCC”) and Maria College signed two agreements on Tuesday, March 7 at SCCC’s Center City extension site located at 433 State Street, Schenectady. The agreements allow ease of transfer for those students who are looking to continue their education in the field of healthcare.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) permits SUNY SCCC students who have successfully completed the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) or the Home Health Aide (HHA) certification to seamlessly transition into Maria College’s Practical Nurse Certification (LPN) program. Students will be able to transition without having to take and pay for the Test for Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) normally required for entrance into the college’s LPN program. A minimum of ten seats in Maria College’s program will be reserved for eligible SUNY SCCC CNA and HHA graduates.
The new arrangement allows SUNY SCCC to market cost free opportunities to Maria College’s potential students who are waiting to start college in the fall, and who qualify for the Healthcare Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG 2.0). Students will be encouraged to take short term courses (HHA, CNA, EKG, Phlebotomy, etc.) to provide them with the clinical experience and exposure to the field of healthcare before beginning their post-secondary education at Maria College.
In addition, an articulation agreement will facilitate SUNY SCCC Community Health Worker training graduates to transition to the Bachelor of Science Degree program in Healthcare Management and receive six credits upon enrollment – three credits for the United States Healthcare System course and three free elective credits.
“This mutually beneficial partnership between SUNY SCCC and Maria College promises to increase opportunities for our students to continue to progress with their LPN and RN education and training,” said SUNY SCCC President Dr. Steady H. Moono. “We’ve already placed two of our students into Maria College’s Practical Nurse Certification Programs, and look forward to continuing to cultivate this relationship.”
Dr. Tom Gamble, Maria College president, stated, “This collaboration is an example of public and private colleges working together to create a win-win for students and the region’s healthcare sector economy. We are best served when higher education institutions cooperate and forge agreements aligned around our respective educational strengths and the needs of employers. The Maria College – SUNY Schenectady County Community College alliance will create new education pathways for students and provide the region with a skilled and competent healthcare workforce. This marks the beginning of a strong education and workforce partnership with SUNY Schenectady County Community College.”
SUNY SCCC recently announced that students may qualify for free training for two new workforce development programs under the Healthcare Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG 2.0): Phlebotomy and EKG Technician. These programs come at an ideal time for students considering careers in the burgeoning healthcare field.
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SUNY Schenectady County Community College: One of the 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, the nation’s largest comprehensive system of higher education, SUNY Schenectady County Community College (SUNY SCCC) in upstate New York enrolls more than 6,200 students. SUNY SCCC offers more than 55 career degree, transfer degree and certificate programs. The College opened its doors for classes in 1969 and continues to provide affordable comprehensive higher education and adult educational opportunities in response to local educational needs. To learn more, visit www.sunysccc.edu.
About Maria College: Founded in 1958 by the Religious Sisters of Mercy, Maria College is one of 16 colleges and universities in the Conference for Mercy Higher Education (CMHE). Maria is a private, co-educational, Catholic college serving almost 1,000 traditional and non-traditional students in a variety of degrees and certificate programs. Known for its warm, caring culture, its personalized attention to students, flexible scheduling and highly affordable tuition, Maria College has entered an exciting period of growth. The College has an excellent reputation in the health sciences, nursing, occupational therapy, healthcare management, humanities and liberal arts fulfilling the need for high demand jobs in the region. For more information please visit www.mariacollege.edu.
This document was supported by Grant 90FX 0054 from the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HHS. HPOG is a study funded by the federal government which is being conducted to determine how these training opportunities help people improve their skills and find better jobs. During the study, all new eligible applicants will be selected by lottery to participate in these training opportunities. Not all eligible applicants will be selected to participate in these opportunities.