Students can earn four-year degree on Harper's campus

Count Patrycja Pajor among the nearly 60 students already embracing an opportunity to earn a four-year degree without leaving Harper College's campus.

The Harper graduate is now a DePaul University student working toward a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies with a major in Business Administration through the new University Center at Harper.

"The University Center for me is a lot easier than the alternatives," Pajor, of Elk Grove Village, said. "I'm not having to commute downtown, and I can work full-time (a job in accounts receivable) while I'm in school."

Together with strategic partners DePaul, Northern Illinois and Roosevelt universities, Harper is working to remove barriers that might stand in the way of someone continuing their education.

Students typically complete 60 credit hours (the associate degree) at Harper's lower tuition rate and the second half of the bachelor's degree with financial incentives from DePaul, NIU or Roosevelt, yielding a more economical bachelor's degree on Harper's campus.

Students also benefit from the partner universities' admissions, registration and academic advising staff.

Programs include:

• DePaul: Communication and Media; Information Technology; Business Administration

• NIU: Computer science; Marketing; Psychology

• Roosevelt: Criminal Justice; Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; and Health Science Administration

Hannah Wiley of Rolling Meadows is also part of the DePaul business administration cohort.

"Harper is 10 minutes away from my house and I know the campus," she said. "It would take me an hour to get to DePaul's campus in the (Chicago) Loop, and I just couldn't do it and keep working my two jobs. This is way more manageable."

The University Center is yet another piece in a larger push Harper is making toward increasing access to postsecondary education in the Northwest suburbs.

Harper College President Ken Ender pointed to the college's Power of 15 initiative, which increases access to highly transferrable, college-level courses. In addition, the Harper College Promise Scholarship Program provides eligible high school students with an opportunity to earn up to two years of tuition at Harper if they maintain solid grades, have good attendance, don't repeat classes, graduate on time and provide service to their community.

"Access is related not just to cost and geography, but to college readiness, and we think that's what all these programs provide," Ender said.

For more information, visit harpercollege.edu or contact the University Center at (847) 925-6315 or email universitycenter@harpercollege.edu.