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University’s agreement with Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority offers company’s employees, their spouses and dependents access to higher education

Adelphi, Md. (Oct. 18, 2018) — University of Maryland University College (UMUC) announced today that it has signed an agreement with Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), one of the nation’s largest rapid transit systems and the major transit provider for Philadelphia and surrounding counties, to offer eligible employees, their spouses and dependents the opportunity to complete degrees or pursue higher education at UMUC at discounted rates. Through the agreement, employees, spouses and dependents are eligible for a waiver of UMUC’s application fee and non-Maryland residents can receive a 25-percent discount on out-of-state tuition rates for most programs.

“We are pleased and excited to form this alliance with SEPTA,” said Blakely Pomietto, deputy chief academic officer at UMUC. “We are proud to broaden our public mission to the Philadelphia region’s largest transit system and its more than 10,000 employees that serve in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.”

Under the agreement, SEPTA employees, their spouses and dependents can take individual courses or enroll in any of UMUC’s more than 90 undergraduate and graduate degree or certificate programs, most of which are available fully online. Most costly publisher textbooks have been replaced by no-cost online resources, and students enrolling in The Undergraduate School may be eligible to transfer credits from other institutions and/or earn credit for prior learning, thus shortening the path to a baccalaureate degree.

“SEPTA is very pleased to join in this alliance with UMUC,” said Dr. Michael Dawkins, SEPTA’s program development specialist in the Employee Development and Relations Division. “Our goal is to equip employees with critical knowledge, skills and abilities to enhance their performance and career. We welcome UMUC and look forward to a very enriching alliance.”

��About University of Maryland University College ��A pioneer in distance education since 1947, University of Maryland University College is a world leader in innovative education models, with award-winning online programs in workforce-relevant areas such as cybersecurity, biotechnology, data analytics, and information technology.�� UMUC offers open access with a global footprint and a specific mission—to meet the learning needs of adult students whose responsibilities often include jobs, families, and military service. Today, UMUC is harnessing the power of learning-science and technology to deliver high-quality education that is accessible, affordable, and valued. UMUC is a constituent institution of the University System of Maryland (USM) and governed by the USM Board of Regents. UMUC was #1 in “Military Times’” 2018 Best for Vets ranking of online and nontraditional schools.

About Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA)���� SEPTA is the largest transit system in Pennsylvania, serving Philadelphia and the four surrounding counties, and extends into parts of New Jersey and Delaware. The organization serves over 1.03 million customers daily and employs over ten thousand employees.

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