Purchase College Celebrates New Pathway Program with Rockland Community College

On April 7, Purchase College, SUNY hosted a special event to highlight the new RCC-Purchase Pathway Program with Rockland Community College which includes a clear, supportive, and affordable route to earn both an associate and bachelor’s degree.

The event highlighted the benefits of the partnership including supportive advising and a significant cost savings. The partnership allows Rockland County students to be accepted to both programs. Upon acceptance, students complete two years at RCC then transfer to Purchase without losing time or credits, which allows students to complete their bachelor’s degrees on time. NY State Students with a 3.0 in this new RCC-Purchase Pathway program may qualify to receive a scholarship of $3,000 per year for the two years they attend Purchase.

The event included a signing of the new agreement by Purchase College President Michael E. Steiper, Ph.D., and Rockland Community College President Dr. William P. Mullaney, as well as Purchase Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Earnest Lamb and RCC’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Melanie Rie, all of whom offered remarks, as did Diego Nova, a student who shared his story on how he has benefited from transferring from community college to Purchase. Congressman George Latimer was in attendance and offered remarks in support of public higher education in our region.

President Steiper said, "Together, Purchase and RCC are removing barriers to access, strengthening families and communities, empowering the next generation of leaders, and fueling the economic vitality of Westchester and Rockland counties, and of our state as a whole. Through this agreement, Purchase, which is the closest four-year SUNY to RCC, will be able to make an even greater impact in the lives of students by expanding credit transfer opportunities across more programs and reaching more students than ever before. It also allows us to provide deeper financial and academic support so that every student has the resources they need to succeed."

“Proximity matters for our students. Many choose Rockland Community College because they want or need to stay close to home, and this new transfer agreement with SUNY Purchase strengthens that pathway,” said Dr. William Mullaney, president of Rockland Community College. “With SUNY Purchase less than 30 miles away, our students can continue their education seamlessly, affordably, and close to their families and communities.”

About Purchase College, SUNY

A top 10 public school, according to U.S. News & World Report, Purchase College, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, was founded in 1967 by Governor Nelson Rockefeller. His aspiration for Purchase was to create a dynamic campus that combined conservatory training in the visual and performing arts with programs in the liberal arts and sciences, in order to inspire an appreciation for both intellectual and artistic talents in all students. Today, Purchase College, SUNY is a community of students, faculty, and friends where open-minded engagement with the creative process leads to a lifetime of intellectual growth and professional opportunity. For more information about the college, visitwww.purchase.edu.

About Rockland Community College, State University of New York

Founded in 1959, Rockland Community College (RCC) provides students with a high-quality education that is both affordable and accessible. The College offers 35 degree and 3 certificate programs, supported by a faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. In addition to its main campus in Suffern, RCC operates a Hospitality and Culinary Arts Center in Nyack, and its Automotive Technology Center in Orangeburg. For more information about RCC, visit sunyrockland.edu.