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

Image

Through this pathway, Wilson College will accept a maximum of 60 hours of college-level coursework offered by NPRC. 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 allow students enrolled in NPRC’s Paraeducators Pathway Program to continue their education at Wilson College and complete their goal of becoming 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.  

Wilson College’s Lynn Newman, Ph.D., director of education and associate professor of education, said, “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’s Ben Malczyk, Ph.D., vice president of academics, added, “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.”  

NPRC will provide academic advising for general education and other prerequisite courses to prepare students who wish 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 them prepare the Wilson College transfer admission application. Wilson College and NPRC agree to monitor and support the provisions of this agreement to ensure program consistency, quality, and transferability will benefit students of both institutions.  
 
About Wilson College: Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering bachelor’s degrees in 34 majors and 40 minors in high-demand and innovative fields including education, nursing, equine studies, veterinary nursing, and sport management, as well as graduate degrees in education, fine arts, the humanities, nursing, and organizational leadership. Offering degree programs in person and online, the College achieved the highest total enrollment in its history for Fall 2024, as it makes higher education accessible and affordable for today’s students. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information. 

About NPRC: Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) is authorized by the PA Department of Education to award associate degrees and certificates in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. NPRC is an open-admission, two-year institution of higher education. The College's mission is to provide affordable and accessible post-secondary education to the residents of northern Pennsylvania. NPRC brings affordable education to a 10-county region (Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Venango, and Warren). With flexible scheduling options at numerous instructional locations as well as remote, attending Northern Pennsylvania Regional College is an excellent option for individuals interested in furthering their education close to home or who need flexibility in their educational journey. With a growing team of high-quality industry-leading instructors directing our classrooms, students are empowered by a welcoming community to change their lives and brighten their futures. NPRC is a candidate for accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). https://regionalcollegepa.org.