In the midst of an unprecedented public health challenge, Keuka College is joining with another local institution on a strategy to increase the number of area medical professionals.
Keuka College and Finger Lakes Community College have teamed up to provide greater educational opportunities in the growing fields of community and public health.
Keuka College President Amy Storey and FLCC President Dr. Robert K. Nye this month signed a Dual Admission and General Transfer Agreement, formalizing a partnership that will see graduates from FLCC’s Health Care Studies associate degree program move seamlessly into Keuka College’s Community Health & Wellness bachelor’s program.
“This agreement combines two of the region’s most robust healthcare curricula to provide exciting new educational opportunities for students interested in careers in community and public health,” said Keuka College President Storey. “The Finger Lakes region continues to suffer from a shortage of healthcare professionals and health sector workers – a challenge that is especially critical during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Because so many graduates from both of our colleges remain in the region to build lives and careers after graduation, this partnership will help meet the area’s healthcare needs, as well as its educational needs.”
It's the second joint agreement in two months for Keuka College, which last month partnered with Onondaga Community College on a similar agreement to see OCC’s Human Services graduates seamlessly enroll in Keuka College’s bachelor’s degree program in Social Work.
New Opportunities
The Community Health & Wellness degree, one of Keuka College’s newest programs, offers two concentrations—Health Administration and Human Services—that align with two of the nation’s fastest-growing job sectors. The program prepares graduates for non-clinical healthcare roles such as medical case manager, corporate wellness educator, and rural health agency administrator.
FLCC’s associate degree in Health Care Studies, which provides a variety of health-specific electives, is the college’s most popular transfer degree.
“The current COVID-19 pandemic has made it plain how important community and public health resources are,” said FLCC President Nye. “This agreement builds a clear pathway for students to enter a field in need of skilled, knowledgeable, and compassionate workers.”
Students may apply for entrance to the Dual Admission Program when they submit their applications for admission to Finger Lakes Community College, at any time during their first year, or upon the completion of up to 30 credits at FLCC. They will go on to complete the bachelor’s degree program over four semesters of full-time study either on the FLCC campus or at Keuka College’s on-campus site via the adult hybrid or online models.
An Exciting Partnership
“We’re excited for this partnership with Finger Lakes Community College, which will offer a pathway to a bachelor’s degree for those who started their studies in the health and wellness field and choose to go on to advance their skills,” said Dr. Chris Alterio, Division Chair of Occupational Therapy at Keuka College. “Students enrolling in this program will have the benefit of a solid foundation at FLCC and will continue with the program at Keuka College that emphasizes experiential learning and real-world application of health and wellness strategies. Graduates of this program will develop the skills to promote health and change lives for the betterment of our entire community.”
Keuka College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Brad Fuster and FLCC Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Jonathan Keiser were also signatories of the agreement.
Information on Keuka College’s Community Health and Wellness program is available online, as is information on FLCC’s Health Care Studies program.
