Milton Hershey School, Pennsylvania College of Technology Form Partnership to Support Low-Income Students
On June 14, Milton Hershey School and Pennsylvania College of Technology announced a partnership to provide more focused support to help students from MHS succeed at Penn College.
Both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formalizes and expands the collaboration, specifying steps to be taken to attract more MHS students to Penn College while improving their retention and graduation rates.
It is the 11th such agreement MHS has established with postsecondary institutions across the state to offer its graduates individualized support for furthering their education.
“Our goal is to ensure our alumni are able to be academically successful, and a partnership with Penn College creates wonderful opportunities for our graduates pursuing technical degrees,” MHS Vice President of Graduate Programs for Success Tanya Barton said. “Penn College’s curriculum will provide our students the ability to build on the skills they gain through our Career and Technical Education so they can reach their life goals.”
As part of the agreement, Milton Hershey School will support recruitment of its students to Penn College, collaborate with college transitions and academic support staff at Penn College regarding support programs, assist with data collection and analysis, invite representatives of the college to the school’s annual college fair events, and include Penn College information in MHS student and sponsor guidebooks and catalogs.
Penn College will extend the in-state tuition rate to all Milton Hershey School graduates, invite MHS students to spring and fall open house events and to program-specific academic campus tours, schedule admissions counselors to visit MHS career fairs and classes, and invite MHS students to visit Penn College representatives annually at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
“Penn College and the Milton Hershey School have a long history of collaboration, and we are excited to continue our relationship through this new partnership,” said Carolyn R. Strickland, vice president for enrollment management and associate provost. “Milton Hershey School currently provides a breadth of career pathways that align closely to programs offered at Penn College, such as automotive technology, construction and health sciences. We look forward to welcoming students from Milton Hershey and supporting their academic and career goals.”
Penn college will make available a variety of services to MHS students through its Financial Aid Office, College Transitions, the Academic Success Center and Student Activities. MHS graduates will be assisted in applying for work study and campus employment when appropriate.
The college also will offer MHS students the opportunity to participate in the Penn College NOW dual enrollment program, which allows students in high school or career and technology centers to earn college credit during the school day at no cost to themselves or their families.