Ossining School District Superintendent Dr. Raymond Sanchez met with fellow district superintendents from Peekskill and Port Chester schools, along with county and state representatives, to announce a new seamless admissions partnership with SUNY Westchester Community College.
The agreement, which was announced on October 20th, ensures every graduating senior with a local or Regents diploma will automatically be accepted to attend Westchester Community College starting in the fall of 2023 as part of a dynamic new college admissions program.
“We have all come together to celebrate a partnership that I am confident will have a positive impact on the scholars we serve in Ossining, Peekskill and Port Chester. It is also a reminder of how while we are located in different parts of Westchester County, we are all devoted to the important work of creating educational opportunities for students,” Dr. Sanchez said.
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He added that since the beginning, the collaboration has been about taking down barriers and creating future opportunities for students.
Those previous barriers included the college application and the associated fee. Now qualified students can bypass the traditional application process for automatic admission to SUNY Westchester, creating pathways to academic and career success.
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New York State Senator Shelley Mayer said she is thrilled to be celebrating the partnership, which will trigger real opportunity for students in the Ossining, Peekskill and Port Chester school districts.
“It opens a door that was too frequently hard to open… and translates into incredible opportunities for students and the community. Removing these barriers with a creative approach is what we need to see in education,” Ms. Mayer said.
With more than 65 programs and 40 clubs, Ossining students that attend SUNY Westchester will have the unique opportunity to take advantage of a variety of high academic options including Humanities, Business, Culinary, Health, and Education.
Ossining senior Kate Lowenthal, who will be attending SUNY Westchester next fall, closed the ceremony with remarks of gratitude for the collaboration.
“The college application process can be intimidating, but this opportunity will provide a well-rounded education at an affordable price. It will create a stress-free admissions process for all future students applying to SUNY Westchester,” said Kate.
