Guaranteed Admissions To 4-Year Colleges In Centennial District Deal

WARMINSTER, PA —Hot off the heels of an agreement for students to receive an automatic admission to Bucks County Community College, the Centennial School District is expanding its academic options.

The school district has announced that Centennial has entered an agreement to provide students with "seamless and cost-effective post secondary opportunities" with Commonwealth University.

The agreement, school officials said, will guarantee admissions for qualified students and also offer merit-based scholarships and guaranteed on-campus housing.

“This agreement provides our students with a four-year college opportunity that aligns well with our two-year degree and career options offered to our students via our recently signed automatic admissions agreement with Bucks County Community College,” Schools Superintendent Dana Bedden said.

Commonwealth University has several colleges that fall under its umbrella: Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities.

“Our high school students will now have a strong two-by-two-by-two model which offers opportunities to attend Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, automatic admissions to Bucks County Community College for industry certification and/or two-year degree, or guaranteed admissions to the Commonwealth University," Bedden said.

Commonwealth University will also award three tiers of academic merit scholarships to CSD graduates according to the following academic preparedness of the student applicant:

• Tier 1 - 90 percent or above cumulative average (3.51-4.0 GPA) at CSD - $20,000; $5,000 annually.
• Tier 2 - 88-89.9 percent cumulative average (3.25-3.50 GPA) at CSD - $12,000; $3,000 annually.
• Tier 3 - 85-87.9 percent cumulative average (3.0-3.24 GPA) at CSD - $8,000; $2,000 annually.

Commonwealth University President Bashar W. Hanna said the agreement demonstrates the "power of partnership to make a significant impact in the lives of students."

"We are fortunate to have academically talented and driven high school students in our state who will thrive as Huskies, Bald Eagles, and Mounties. We look forward to welcoming them to our campuses," Hanna said.

All scholarship recipients must remain enrolled full-time at Commonwealth University for a minimum of 12 credits per academic semester and maintain an overall GPA of 2.50 to remain in good academic standing and, therefore, eligible for the scholarship.

The scholarship is renewable for up to four (4) academic years, or eight (8) consecutive fall and spring academic semesters, if the criteria above are met.

On-campus housing at the Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, or Mansfield campuses will be guaranteed for up to four (4) years of full-time student enrollment.

Nursing, physician assistant, and other health professions programs remain selective and have additional requirements or capacities. For these programs, it is vital that students apply as early as possible to these majors to receive early consideration for admission.