BCCC Signs Historic Honors Program Agreement With Temple

NEWTOWN, PA — Bucks County Community College is strengthening its partnership with Temple University by creating a new pathway for Honors@Bucks students to smoothly transfer into the Temple University Honors Program.

The new Honors-to-Honors Agreement, signed
on Thursday, June 25, at Bucks County Community College’s Newtown Campus, enhances collaboration between the two institutions in support of high-achieving, highly motivated students.

“The Honors-to-Honors Agreement with Temple University is a testament to the high caliber of the Honors@Bucks program,” said Bucks County Community College President & CEO Patrick M. Jones, Ph.D. “This partnership with Temple will provide the opportunity for our top academic performers to continue their education as honors students at one of the finest public universities in the country.”

Students who take advantage of the agreement will benefit from academic excellence, research opportunities, and being part of a scholarly community in the honors programs at both institutions. In addition, aligned advising, curriculum planning, and student support services will enhance their experience.

Temple University President John Fry (right) and Bucks County Community College President & CEO Patrick M. Jones, Ph.D., signed a new honors-to-honors agreement that allows high-achieving, highly motivated BCCC honors graduates to transfer seamlessly into Temple’s honors program. (Eric Parker/BCCC)

Bucks County Community College President & CEO Patrick M. Jones, Ph.D., (at podium) welcomes Temple University President John Fry and others to historic Tyler Hall on the College’s Newtown Campus. The two institutions signed a new honors-to-honors agreement at the former estate of Stella Elkins Tyler, who had served as a Temple trustee for 20 years, established Temple’s Tyler School of Art, and bequeathed
her estate to Temple. The County of Bucks purchased the estate from Temple and opened the community college in Tyler Hall in 1965. (Eric Parker/BCCC)

“We are delighted to partner with Bucks County Community College to create this new Honors-to-Honors Agreement that will ultimately bring more highly talented, motivated
students to North Broad Street,” Temple President John Fry said. “One of the distinguishing ideals and values of Temple Honors is Access Reimagined, as we want to embrace a flexible model where students can enter our program through multiple entry points. This initiative directly supports that approach.”

The Honors-to-Honors Agreement comes at a time when Temple’s Honors Program has significant momentum as it transitions to a formal honors college.

Earlier this spring, Temple announced that a historic gift from Jane Creamer Sullivan, KLN ’70, will lead to the creation of the Jane Creamer Sullivan and Thomas J. Sullivan Honors College. The college is expected to launch the new Honors College in fall 2027.

The creation of the Sullivan Honors College will elevate and reimagine Temple’s existing honors program as it will embrace an approach that is shaped by the university’s
strengths, values, and character.

Currently, Temple’s Honors Program enrolls approximately 2,100 undergraduate students. The establishment of the Sullivan Honors College will dramatically expand opportunities for top students.

Bucks County Community College serves more than 11,000 credit students and 25,000 non-credit students annually.

“Each year, we graduate over 400 students who earn Latin
honors in our rigorous academic programs,” said Jones. “This Honors-to-Honors Agreement will provide these graduates with new opportunities as members of a scholarly community at one of the country’s most dynamic universities.”

The Honors-to-Honors Agreement is also the latest example of an ongoing partnership between Bucks County Community College and Temple.

In addition to 15 active degree program-to-program agreements, a 2+2 dual admission agreement is already in place, allowing students to be dually admitted to both institutions and save almost $30,000 by completing their first two years at Bucks before transferring to Temple for their last two years.

To learn more, visit bucks.edu/save.