DeSales University and Lehigh Carbon Community College Launch Pathway for Education Majors

DeSales University and Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) have established a new guided pathway designed to create a strong, affordable route for LCCC students earning an associate degree in PreK to 4 or Special Education to continue their studies and complete a Bachelor of Arts in the same field at DeSales.

The new partnership builds on the existing Core-to-Core Articulation Agreement between the two institutions, adding program-specific support for students pursuing careers in early childhood and special education. The pathway focuses on admissions, academic advising, outreach, and student support from a student's very first semester at LCCC through graduation from DeSales.

"Partnerships like this break down barriers to four-year degrees," said Christiana Pheiffer, PhD, professor in the College of Education. "We need qualified teachers now more than ever, which means higher education must continue to make professional education programs far more accessible."

Under the agreement, eligible students who commit to completing their associate degree at LCCC, maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, and complete designated prerequisite coursework will benefit from coordinated academic advising at both institutions, with at least one documented advising touchpoint each term. Each student will also receive a personalized two-year plan at LCCC and a corresponding two-year plan at DeSales to support on-time completion of a 2+2 degree pathway.

The partnership also opens the door to co-curricular opportunities, including access to select DeSales PreK to 4 and Special Education workshops and designated free-ticket performances hosted by Act 1 Productions. Pathway students will be paired with current DeSales PreK to 4 or Special Education majors, giving them an early connection to campus life and their future field of study.

DeSales has committed to providing co-advising beginning in students' first LCCC semester, conducting timely transfer credit evaluations, and administering an institutional scholarship discount to all eligible students, in addition to library access and participation in LCCC's annual transfer fairs and joint information sessions for students and families.
The two institutions will review the pathway's outcomes annually, including transfer rates, scholarship awards, and degree-completion progress, to ensure the program continues to meet students' needs.

"This pathway with LCCC is important to expanding access, growing our transfer enrollment, and creating clear, affordable opportunities for students to complete their bachelor's degrees at DeSales," said Erin McLaughlin, PhD, dean of the College of Arts, Education and Humanities.