St. Joseph’s University, NY (SJNY), with a campus in Patchogue, and Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) in Selden have a new partnership that is designed to expand opportunities, including grants and scholarships, for students on Long Island. The new initiative allows guaranteed acceptance to almost all of the St. Joseph’s programs for the SCCC students who choose joint admission.
Through this program, participating students are automatically considered for “generous” scholarships, according to St. Joseph’s. That includes a “Stay on Long Island Scholarship” initiative that annually awards four full-tuition scholarships and eight $20,000 scholarships to SCCC graduates.
“Our two institutions are here to help students meet their goals and achieve degrees,” SJNY President Donald Boomgaarden, said in a news release about the expanded opportunities.
“With strong programs, less student debt, scholarships and a smooth transition from community college to university, we are proud to reaffirm this long-standing partnership and continue to provide expanded opportunities for students,” Boomgaarden said.
As a private institution, SJNY attracts the most SCCC graduates, according to the news release. In the last academic year, for example, 50% of all SJNY Long Island transfer students came from SCCC. These students had a shorter time to degree completion and a higher GPA than those students who either transferred before receiving a degree or transferred from other institutions.
“Suffolk County Community College lays the foundation for students while St. Joseph’s builds on top of that foundation with a direct pathway to a baccalaureate degree,” Suffolk President Edward Bonahue, said in the news release. “St. Joseph’s remains a direct interest for Suffolk students who want to earn a four-year degree, but also want to remain on Long Island.”