Widener University President James T. Harris III (center) adds his signature to those of Penn State Abington Chancellor Karen Wiley Sandler (left) and Widener ROTC Commander Lt. Col. Robert Sewall.
Army ROTC students at Penn State Abington will now be able to complete their military course of study without leaving the area thanks to a partnership agreement signed January 30, 2007 between Widener University and Penn State Abington.
Under the agreement, Penn State Abington undergraduates will complete the final two years of their ROTC training on the campus of Villanova University and receive their commissions from Widener’s ROTC program. The ROTC faculty currently based at Penn State Abington will become affiliated with Widener ROTC as well.
The partnership recognizes both Penn State Abington’s evolution from a two-year to a four-year campus and Widener’s history of education for military leadership. Previously, Penn State Abington students had to transfer to the main Penn State campus in State College to complete their ROTC training.
“This is an important agreement for Philadelphia as well,” said Penn State Abington Chancellor Karen Wiley Sandler. “This allows our students to stay localto remain in the area and still receive the training they need for their Army career.”
“Our program is now the largest Army ROTC battalion in the Philadelphia region,” said the commander of Widener’s corps, Lt. Col. Robert Sewall. In addition to Penn State Abington and Widener, students at Neumann College, Penn State Delaware County, and Cheyney, Villanova and West Chester universities receive their officer commissions through Widener ROTC.