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Dr Jones poses with Wrexham University partner

BCCC Launches International Transfer Partnership with Wrexham University

Bucks County Community College officials are proud to announce a groundbreaking international partnership — the College’s first — with Wrexham University in Wales, UK, offering Bucks students a seamless and affordable path to earning a globally recognized bachelor’s degree in as little as one year abroad. This unique program allows students to explore the world, immerse themselves in a different culture, and graduate with an international degree in only three years with an option to earn their MBA in the fourth year. This new transfer opportunity comes at a time when U.S. students are increasingly looking beyond national borders for affordable, high-quality higher education. According to a recent article in The Independent, UK universities are seeing a surge in applications from American students, many of whom are drawn by lower tuition costs, shorter degree programs, and the chance to travel abroad. Through the new Bucks-Wrexham agreement, students completing their associate degree in Business Administration at Bucks can transfer directly to Wrexham University to complete a bachelor’s degree in either Business and Management or Accounting and Finance Management in just one additional year. Participants may also opt to stay for an accelerated MBA, completing the graduate degree in just four years total from their Bucks start. “This is more than a transfer agreement — it’s a transformational experience,” said Bucks County Community College President & CEO Patrick M. Jones. “Our students gain access to a high-quality international education at a fraction of the cost of many U.S. institutions, while immersing themselves in Welsh culture and gaining a global perspective.” The partnership also builds on the growing connection between Wrexham and the greater Philadelphia region, thanks in part to actor and producer Rob McElhenney. A South Philadelphia native and co-owner of Wrexham A.F.C., McElhenney has helped put the Welsh town on the map for many Americans through the acclaimed documentary “Welcome to Wrexham.” His pride in his Philly roots and genuine investment in Wrexham’s resurgence as a community highlight the deep cultural resonance this opportunity offers to Bucks students. Moss Garde, Pro Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement and Partnerships at Wrexham University, said: “This international partnership with Bucks County Community College is incredibly exciting as it reflects our commitment to creating global pathways in education. By opening up new opportunities for collaboration and student mobility, we are delivering on our newly launched 2030 vision and strategy to be a connected, inclusive, and globally engaged university.” Students enrolled in the program will benefit from: A $2,500 scholarship toward tuition Access to state-of-the-art facilities and award-winning teaching The chance to live in Wrexham, a vibrant town situated on the Wales-England border and just a short train ride from London, Liverpool, and Manchester Founded in 1887 and granted university status in 2008, Wrexham University is home to more than 9,000 students — including more than 1,500 international students — and is ranked #1 in Wales for teaching excellence and social inclusion. The Bucks-Wrexham partnership is part of the College’s larger commitment to global citizenship. A proud member of the British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia (BABCPHL), Bucks County Community College is committed to providing students innovative, affordable educational pathways that prepare them for success in today’s global economy. For more information or to apply, students should contact the School of Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies at Bucks via email to business@bucks.edu or visit Wrexham Bound on the website.

Bucks County Community College Turns Passion for Pets Into Careers

Bucks County Community College students took part in a flurry of pet-themed fun at the Upper Bucks Campus Wednesday, August 20, to celebrate the start of the new veterinary technician major. Activities included tossing cotton balls into a protective cone (worn by a human instead of a pet), a dog-collar ring toss, and partaking in a “kitty litter” edible treat on the first day of the fall semester. The Associate of Applied Science degree is the first credit program offered exclusively at the Upper Bucks Campus in Perkasie. In the final two terms of the five-semester program, students will gain practical experience working at a veterinary clinic or with a vet who makes farm calls for larger animals. Graduates will be able to work in veterinary practices, labs, or pharmaceutical and veterinary sales. Twenty-five students are enrolled in the initial class this fall. To learn more, email VetTech@bucks.edu. Students take part in pet-themed games, like tossing cotton balls into a protective cone, to mark the start of the veterinary technician major at Bucks County Community College’s Upper Bucks Campus. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College) Connie Corrigan, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, Kinesiology and Sport Studies, serves up a “kitty litter” edible treat to celebrate the first day of classes for students in the veterinary technician major, the first credit program offered exclusively at Bucks County Community College’s Upper Bucks Campus in Perkasie. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College) More than two dozen students majoring in the new veterinary technician program attend the first class at Bucks County Community College’s Upper Bucks Campus on August 20. In the final two terms of the five-semester program, students will gain practical experience working at a veterinary clinic or with a vet who makes farm calls for larger animals. (CREDIT: Eric Parker, Bucks County Community College)

Poet Laureate Contest Entry Deadline Nears

For those who save their best writing for last, the time is near for local scribes to enter the 49th annual Bucks County Poet Laureate contest, according to Bucks County Community College (BCCC) officials. Professor Ethel Rackin, director of the longest-running poet laureate program in Pennsylvania, is encouraging writers to get their creative juices flowing and enter by September 19. Entrants must be Bucks County residents over age 18 who have never previously served as poet laureate, explained Rackin, a language and literature professor at BCCC, which administers the program. Each entrant must submit an entry form with 10 original poems of any style, form, or length to the College’s School of Language and Literature. Entries must be submitted online by Friday, September 19. The winner receives a $500 honorarium, a proclamation from the Bucks County Commissioners, and a reading and reception at Bucks County Community College with 2024 Poet Laureate Lake Angela, contest judges, and contest runners-up. Two judges will blindly select the winner. The preliminary judge will narrow the entries down to a few dozen for the final judge, who will choose the winner and three runners-up from the pool of finalists. There is no charge for entry. All work must be original and can be published or unpublished. All entries must be submitted online by September 19. For more information, contact Ethel Rackin at Ethel.Rackin@bucks.edu.

Bucks and Stockton representatives pose for photo

Bucks County Community College and Stockton University Sign Transfer Agreement

Philanthropists Gene and Marlene Epstein Expand BCCC Scholarship Program

An additional 100 scholarships will help Lower Bucks high school graduates attend Bucks County Community College, with $1 million promised in the future Today, while unveiling a new gateway sign at the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol, philanthropist Gene Epstein announced the expansion of a scholarship program to help Lower Bucks high school graduates attend Bucks County Community College. Last March, the Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund donated $100,000 to allow 100 students to attend their first year of college free of student debt during the 2025-2026 academic year. On Monday, August 18, Epstein announced an additional 100 scholarships will be available in the 2026-2027 academic year. What’s more, Epstein revealed a $1 million commitment towards future scholarships in the years ahead. The campus, which opened in 2006 in Bristol Township as the Bucks County Community College Lower Bucks Campus, was renamed the Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in 2016 to commemorate a generous donation from the Epstein Humanitarian Fund. In 2022, the campus expanded with a new building, the Center for Advanced Technologies.

black and white image 1977 silver gelatin photo

See Decades of Legacy at 'The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition'

Bucks County Community College is putting six decades of artistic legacy on display with “The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition” August 27 to October 25 on the Newtown Campus. Various works by 27 retired professors and administrators from 1965 to 2025 will be shown and heard throughout the Hicks Art Center, including recent and historic works that have never been exhibited or played in public before. “The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition highlights the teaching coterie of artists, historians, and musicians who have profoundly impacted modern and contemporary culture locally and around the world,” said Clifford Eberly, exhibitions associate and the show’s curator. “The School of Arts and Communication wanted to recognize their achievements and contributions to Bucks County and beyond.” Those achievements include six Guggenheim fellows, the founding director of the Michener Art Museum, two professors who went on to teach at Ivy League universities, and some whose works are in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and other prestigious collections, Eberly noted. Indeed, Bucks was one of the first community colleges in the nation to become an accredited institutional member of both the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). It has also been designated as an All-Steinway School by the legendary piano maker. “Bucks’ reputation as a creative wellspring in the community is in large part due to the exceptional artists who have populated our faculty and nurtured our students,” said Carolina Blatt, Ph.D., dean of the School of Arts and Communication. “This show is a testament to the caliber of artists who have worked and trained here. Seeing decades of faculty work gathered in one place is sure to inspire.” Although the College would periodically hold exhibitions to honor faculty as they retired, this is the first to encompass emeriti across all 60 years, according to Fran Orlando, former Director of Exhibitions and Artmobile. “I was drawn to Bucks because of its status as an outstanding college for the arts, and it did not disappoint,” said Orlando, who worked at Bucks for nearly 35 years. “It was a privilege to work with extraordinary colleagues, some of whom were founding faculty members.” Professor Emerita Caren Friedman, who recently retired, had a similar experience. "Having taught at Bucks for 34 years, I've had the pleasure of working closely with a group of talented and dedicated artists and colleagues,” said Friedman.” Our studio classes create an interactive learning environment that fosters lasting connections among faculty and students from many diverse backgrounds." The public is invited to attend an opening reception from 4 – 7 p.m. Thursday, August 28 in room H-100 of the Hicks Art Center. The event will allow attendees to meet some of the artists and discuss their creative journeys prior, during, and after their teaching careers at Bucks. In addition, the talented Bucks music faculty will provide live entertainment. What’s more, the reception gives the artistic community and general public the opportunity to meet Blatt, who became the new dean of the School of Arts and Communication in June. Blatt is an arts administrator, educator, and scholar who seeks to catalyze the arts within and beyond the classroom. She recently worked at Rowan University, Drexel University, and the University of the Arts. Admission to the August 28 reception is free, but a response is requested by emailing foundation@bucks.edu. “The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition” features sculpture, woodturning, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, glass, musical compositions, and art history research by the following retired professors and administrators. Jon Alley Selma Bortner Steven M. Bresnen Karl Carter Robert Dodge Frank Dominguez Edward Ferdinand Caren Friedman Alan Goldstein Emmet Gowin Susan Hagen David Hunter Catherine Jansen Bruce Katsiff Paul F. Keene Jr. Gwendolyn Kerber Stephen S. Levine Emily Brett Lukens John Mathews Roberta Mayer Marlene E. Miller Fran Orlando Charlotte Schatz Sandra Scicchitani Milton Sigel Mark Sfirri Dan Wilkinson The exhibition is dedicated to Professor Emerita Marlene E. Miller, who taught at Bucks from 1966 to 1998 and recently passed away on July 30. Referring to her own art practice, Miller wrote: "I'm always observing the world around me and painting the image of the underdog. I'm compelled to put before people things that attack their feelings and consciousness about social issues." Admission to all events is free. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturday noon - 4 p.m. To learn more, visit Hicks Art Gallery Center and follow on Instagram at @bcccartscomm. The Hicks Art Center is located on the east end of the campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940, where there is ample free parking. For directions and a campus map, visit the Newtown Campus page. “The Faculty Emeriti Arts Exhibition” is presented by the College’s School of Arts and Communication, which offers eight associate degree majors and two certificate programs. Through coursework, exhibitions, and community engagement, the school prepares students for careers in the arts and inspires appreciation for creative expression. To learn more, visit School of Arts and Communication, email arts.comm@bucks.edu, or call 215-968-8425.

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