Reading-based Alvernia University will now allow Luzerne County Community College graduates with an associate’s degree to immediately enroll at Alvernia as juniors and complete a bachelor's degree.
Alvernia will also offer a few in-person classes at Luzerne County Community College’s downtown Pittston location, and city mayor Michael Lombardo says there is more to come.
“I’m hoping in the next, you know, two or three years, we will have a physical structure that will actually have a brand new Alvernia University sign on it,” he said.
Alvernia is a private, Franciscan University with a main campus in Reading and other facilities in Pottsville and Philadelphia.
The dual admissions transfer agreement will allow students to earn their associate’s degree at Luzerne County Community College then transfer to Alvernia University either at a campus or online as a junior and complete a bachelor’s degree. Students will need to complete a dual admissions intent form upon enrollment at LCCC, then graduate from the community college with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 to participate.
Once a student starts at Alvernia full-time, either at a campus or online, they can complete a Bachelor’s degree within two years.
Alvernia University President John Loyack says a standalone location in Pittston is the university’s end-goal - they’ve opened similar facilities in places like Pottsville through their CollegeTowne initiative. He doesn’t want to put a “specific date” on the facility yet, but says the collaboration with Luzerne County Community College is the first step.
“The goal is in-person instruction,” Loyack said. “Knowing us, it’ll be sooner rather than later. We’re usually pretty good at getting things across the finish line.”
Loyack said the university has been discussing a partnership in Pittston since 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic halted conversations and plans.
Alvernia University will start offering in-person classes at Luzerne County Community College’s Pittston facility in the Spring 2023 semester.
