OCC, Medgar Evers College sign transfer agreement for qualified OCC students

ONONDAGA, N.Y. — Onondaga Community College (OCC) students who meet specific requirements will have a “guaranteed pathway” to a bachelor’s-degree program and financial support at Medgar Evers College (MEC) in New York City.

OCC is a two-year school in suburban Syracuse that is part of the SUNY system; MEC is a four-year school in Brooklyn which is part of the City University of New York system.

Under the transfer agreement, OCC students who express an interest in eventually transferring to MEC will receive “continuous guidance” while enrolled at OCC through periodic reviews with advisors.

To be eligible for the direct-admission program, OCC students must maintain a 2.25 grade point average (equivalent of a C+/B-), remain in good standing, and complete their associate degree.

Successful OCC graduates who are New York residents will be eligible for the Medgar Evers CHAMPSS program. It includes financial support of up to $3,500 per semester, book vouchers, and metro cards.

The CHAMPSS program is available to MEC full-time students for up to two years. CHAMPSS is an acronym for Cultivating Holistic Academic Mindsets to Promote Student Success.

“This Direct Admission Program provides our students with a guaranteed, predictable pathway to a bachelor’s degree at an outstanding institution. As we welcome students to our campus from the New York City area, this provides them with the option to pursue their bachelor’s degree closer to home. And, it provides Upstate NY residents with an affordable option to obtain their bachelor’s degree in New York City,” OCC President Warren Hilton said in a news release.