SUNY Adirondack and Castleton University, a public liberal arts college in Vermont, have formed a collaborative agreement creating a pathway for degree completion.

“We are committed to delivering affordable liberal arts education combined with practical career preparation to a broad range of students,” said Castleton University President Karen M. Scolforo. “This highly collaborative, flexible agreement will provide SUNY Adirondack graduates an opportunity to continue on to further their education seamlessly and affordably.”

The agreement guarantees admission to all SUNY Adirondack graduates who have achieved a 3.0 grade point average. In addition to guaranteed admission, Castleton has agreed to waive the application fee and award students up to $16,000 in annual scholarships. The scholarship is designed to recognize the commitment the graduates have already made and make the pathway to a bachelor’s degree more accessible.

According to SUNY Adirondack President Kristine Duffy, the agreement helps fill a significant gap for traditional SUNY Adirondack graduates seeking to further their education out of state.

“By removing a significant financial barrier for students who otherwise would have been discouraged because of cost, President Scolforo and her team are truly demonstrating their commitment to providing affordable, accessible, high-quality education for our deserving graduates who wish to study in the beautiful state of Vermont,” Duffy said.

“Working with President Duffy on this agreement was an honor,” Scolforo said. “Dr. Duffy and I share many of the same foundational principles for leadership and we care deeply about broadening the reach of higher education to meet the needs of all students regardless of their background. This is a testament to how collaboration in higher education can effectively transform lives.”

Castleton will begin this program immediately and has already begun waiving application fees as SUNY Adirondack students prepare to further their education after graduating in May.