Villanova’s College of Professional Studies Announces New Agreement with Williamson College of the Trades, Assisting Skilled Trades Workers on Path to Bachelor’s Degree
Villanova University's College of Professional Studies (CPS) has entered an agreement with Williamson College of the Trades in Media, Pennsylvania to provide Williamson graduates additional access to degree and professional education programs at Villanova.
This new partnership marks the first for the University with an institution that exclusively offers trade-based education, and will grant Williamson graduates and alumni a merit-based tuition reduction for students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Currently, CPS has existing partnership agreements with over a dozen community colleges and associate degree-granting institutions in the Greater Philadelphia area.
“Villanova highly values our collaborative agreements with fellow educational institutions. This opportunity to connect with Williamson College of the Trades offers synergies and benefits for all parties,” said the Rev. David Cregan, OSA, PhD, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “Both Villanova University and Williamson have been providing faith-based education in Delaware County for over a century. Working with the graduates of Williamson College of the Trades is in line with the intentions of the Augustinians who founded Villanova University and we look forward to building a relationship of shared mission and values.”
Villanova has provided access to education to non-traditional and adult students since its founding in 1842, with an added emphasis following the founding of the College of Professional Studies in 2014.
Williamson President Michael J. Rounds said, “Isaiah V. Williamson created what is today Williamson College of the Trades over 130 years ago to provide opportunity to financially disadvantaged young men. Outstanding technical training, leadership development, and immersion in our core values of Faith, Integrity, Diligence, Excellence, and Service uniquely equip our graduates for highly successful careers. Many of our graduates continue their education after earning an associate degree at Williamson, so we are excited to forge this new opportunity with Villanova University. Through this partnership, Williamson alumni can pursue additional education and use their knowledge and skills as leaders to further advance their careers in the region’s technical workforce.”
The bachelor’s degree offerings from CPS include 15 majors and a host of minors, with programs and courses available in person, fully online or in flexible hybrid formats. Students within CPS have full access to the academic and career resources available to every Villanova student, as well as being a part of Villanova’s network of more than 140,000 living alumni.
“We seek to offer our students a holistic educational experience that helps them develop in their careers and in their lives,” said Susan Leighton, MBA, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives for CPS. “Our programs have clear benefits for those working in the trades, with majors like Organizational Development & Management or Entrepreneurship providing direct learnings for their career.”
In addition to greater access to degree programs in CPS, Williamson graduates will also receive a 20 percent tuition reduction on Villanova’s expanding portfolio of professional education programs and courses.
“After Williamson has provided a student with the education necessary to succeed in their chosen industry, Villanova seeks to help those students advance their education further, either through the pursuit of a bachelor's degree or an applicable professional education program,” said Timothy Gilrain, Assistant Dean for Professional Education at Villanova’s College of Professional Studies. “These students would find great value in CPS programs and courses in Leadership or Project Management, or in an emerging field like our new Generative AI program.”
Complete details about Villanova’s transfer agreements with Williamson and other institutions are available online.
About Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies: Founded in 2014, the College of Professional Studies (CPS) provides academically rigorous yet flexible educational pathways to high-achieving adult learners who are balancing professional and educational aspirations with life’s commitments. The CPS experience embodies Villanova’s century-long commitment to making academic excellence accessible to students at all stages of life. Students in CPS programs engage with world-class Villanova faculty, including scholars and practitioners, explore innovative educational technologies and experiences, and join an influential network of passionate alumni. In addition to its industry-leading programs at the nexus of theory and practice, CPS has built a reputation for its personal approach and supportive community that empowers adult students to enrich their lives, enhance their value in the workplace, and embark on new careers.
About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.
About Williamson College of the Trades: Since its founding in 1888, Williamson College of the Trades, in Media, PA, has been preparing deserving young men to be respected leaders and productive members of society. Through scholarships that fully meet each students’ financial need, Williamson uniquely develops the entire student, spiritually, socially, and professionally, emphasizing moral, trade, academic, and leadership education in a structured community based on Christian principles. The core values are: faith, integrity, diligence, excellence, and service. Students may select from among six trades: Construction Technology-Carpentry Emphasis, Construction Technology-ElectricalEmphasis, Construction Technology-Masonry Emphasis, Landscape Construction and Management, Machine Tool Technology, and Power Plant Technology. For more information: www.williamson.edu.