(February 5, 2021) -- To help increase completion rates for first generation college students and low-income students, Harcum College is partnering with St. James School to ensure their graduates earn college degrees. Officials from Harcum and the St. James School, a middle and junior high school in the Allegheny West neighborhood in Philadelphia, participated in a joint signing via Zoom on Friday morning, Feb. 5, of a Memo of Understanding (MOU) that outlined the terms of the partnership. Harcum President Jon Jay DeTemple and other college administrators joined David Kasievich, Head of School, and Kevin Dodd, Director of Graduate Support both representing St. James School in a brief ceremony, concluding with rousing applause and cheers. Kasievich commented that this partnership was about equity and that both schools were committing to address all the things that get in the way of access to higher education. He expressed his gratitude for the work Harcum is doing to create access. In his remarks, President DeTemple said that he saw a natural fit for this partnership, having learned about the work of the St. James School through his Episcopal church. “Education raises up the community. Our society will be better as more of our citizens are better educated,” DeTemple said. While St. James has cultivated partnerships with other four-years schools, President DeTemple feels as though has special value in this arrangement. “In a lot of ways, obtaining an associate’s degree is not a mountain like getting a bachelor’s degree. With a degree from Harcum in hand and having achieved academic success with us, students become hungry and want to keep going.” As a St. James School Partner, Harcum will offer regular student visits to St. James’ students and pledges to remove barriers to the application and enrollment process. Harcum has also agreed to spots in programs with favorable retention rates and that provide help with the first-year transition. Additionally, St. James School students who choose to attend Harcum will receive regular meetings regarding their academic progress, social development, and financial security, to name a few issues commonly faced by first generation college students. For their part, St. James Graduate Support Staff will be in regular communication with Academic Affairs and Admissions regarding the status of all their graduates. Harcum has also committed to creating affordable financial aid packages for St. James students who meet academic qualifications. These arrangements will be reviewed once yearly to best serve the missions of both institutions. Watch 6ABC coverage and interview with a student.