Cabrini has a history of academic and co-curricular partnerships with local, national and international resources.
The college partners up with local and nearby Philadelphia high schools to offer quality educational opportunities between secondary and higher education institutions.
High school students can enroll in a number of courses on Cabrini’s campus, and some classes are offered on the high school campus. This program is open to junior and senior high school students “at a cost of $300 per class whereas one freshmen class is around $1,000.” Tricia Scepansky said. According to Scepansky, who took charge of the program in 2014, a year and a half ago the school started off with only two high school partnerships and about 40 students. Currently, the college is partnered up with 17 public and private schools and 180 students.
About two out of 14 students that were in the program last year now attends Cabrini College. But Scepansky believes if the number of schools and students keep increasing the number of students to enroll at Cabrini will also in- crease.
Out of the 17 schools that Cabrini partners with, some are Archbishop John Carroll, Bethlehem Catholic, Cardinal O’Hara, Chester County Futures, Chichester School District and Lansdale Catholic.
Another program the college participates in is the Diocesan Scholar program.
Colette Nolan, a senior at Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield, attends Cabrini College. Nolan is part of the Diocesan Scholars Program. The Diocesan Scholars program allows the top three percent of the students class on their campus free enrollment their senior year, paid full by the college.
On a regular day, Nolan wakes up at 6 a.m for high school. Nolan is currently enrolled in Principles of Management with David Burke and Community Engagement and Social Media with Felicity Duncan. Nolan is thinking about pursuing a degree in Communication.
In an e-mail Nolan said, “I really like coming to Cabrini. Not only is it close but the campus has a great atmosphere and I’m really en- joying my classes!” Nolan is not sure if she is attending Cabrini next year, campus-wise it is all she wants but she is not sure academically.
This is the first year that the COM department is participating in the educational partnerships. Smith travels to Cardinal O’Hara High School to teach Communication 101, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:45 p.m. until 3 p.m.
Jillian Smith was contacted by Zurek about the Educational Partnerships and with no hesitation said yes to the opportunity. “This is a great opportunity for high school students to get involved with their college career so early,” Smith said.
Scepensky wants to acknowledge the teachers who are passionate about this program. Professors with dedicated work ethic like Zurek, who emailed almost half the staff on Facebook to find professors to teach COM 101, Jillian Smith who travels to high schools along with teaching here at Cabrini, and every staff worker who allows and contributes to the education of students.
