PA College Magazine - Spring 2023 - 5

PA COLLEGE / TEACHING & LEARNING
Packed with Benefits
health care programs. Among the
programs Saint Joseph's gained through
the merger with the University of
the Sciences are graduate programs
in pharmacy, physical therapy,
occupational therapy and physician
assistant. Saint Joseph's sought a merger
with PA College because they believed
our programs would complement and
complete their health care education
portfolio.
In addition to continuing the nursing
programs currently underway at PA
College, Saint Joseph's plans to launch
a baccalaureate nursing program in
Philadelphia in the fall of 2024.
Partnerships and mergers are common
in higher education today in response
to growing economic pressures and
demographic changes. Partnerships
were identified as an important growth
strategy in the most recent PA College
strategic plan. In assessing several
potential partners, PA
College leaders began
conversations with
Saint Joseph's which
evolved into this
agreement.
The first objective
in exploring
partnerships was
to expand academic
opportunities
for students in
the southcentral
Pennsylvania area. Following
the merger, Saint Joseph's will look for
opportunities to bring some of their
academic programs to Lancaster or
develop new programs at our location
based on market needs. In addition,
PA College students will be able to
enroll in other programs offered in
Philadelphia by Saint Joseph's.
The second objective was to continue
to serve the needs of our local
community. An affiliation
agreement between
Penn Medicine
Lancaster General
Health and Saint
Joseph's ensures
that our region
will continue to
have a strong health
care workforce
pipeline and that local
first-generation college
students will continue to
have an opportunity to pursue
family-sustaining careers in health care.
" We know that programs like those
offered at PA College are not only
sought after by students, but they
also have an exponential value in the
communities where those students
then go on to live, work and lead, " said
Cheryl A. McConnell, PhD, president
of Saint Joseph's University.
PA College Magazine / Spring 2023
5
PA College Magazine - Spring 2023

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