If students from upstate Onondaga Community College ever dreamed about getting a college degree from a city university, it just became a step easier.
Medgar Evers College (MEC), part of the City University of New York, and Onondaga Community College (OCC), part of the State University of New York system, signed a transfer agreement in which students from OCC can enroll at Medgar Evers for its bachelor's degree programs.
OCC students will be eligible for financial support from MEC. They will need to maintain at least a 2.25 GPA, obtain their associate's degree and will need to express their interest in transferring to MEC so an academic advisor can help them during their time at OCC, located near Syracuse.
According to Roger Mirabito, the executive director of communications at OCC, this will be a big opportunity for OCC students looking to get an advanced degree.
"We wanted to provide our students with a guaranteed, predictable pathway to a bachelor’s degree at an outstanding institution," Mirabito said. "This is a great option for students who came to us from the New York City area for their first two years of college to return closer to home to work on their bachelor’s degree."
Eighty-nine percent of OCC students are from Onondaga County and the four counties bordering it. OCC has over 80 transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities around the country, with 76% of OCC's graduates going on to their bachelor's, according to the school's website.
Although most of the transferring students will likely attend MEC remotely, it is also expected that some will move to Brooklyn or elsewhere in the city. For that, MEC will provide MetroCards, book vouchers, and help with some housing options.
During the pandemic, CUNY schools saw enrollment decrease by 17% in 2022. MEC's Dr. Jesse Kane, senior vice president of student success and enrollment management, said the college has seen a recent uptick.
That said, increasing admissions is not the reason for these schools to pair up.
"This partnership was born out of similar visions for serving the whole student and opening doors that might not otherwise be available to them," Dr. Kane said. "We believe that this showcases a model that can be replicated by others, as there should be no limitations for a student pursuing their dream - and these types of partnerships will be critical."
OCC President Dr. Warren M. Hilton said affordability is key to this transfer agreement.
"It provides upstate New York residents with an affordable option to obtain their bachelor’s degree in New York City," he said. "This agreement will no doubt produce for New York State future nurses, accountants, computer programmers, teachers, social workers, and more."
