Why the UPMC McKeesport Scholars Program?
The UPMC McKeesport Scholars Program is an exciting new collaboration between CCAC and UPMC McKeesport Hospital! This program offers health sciences students* an opportunity to receive tuition, fees, textbooks, academic support, wraparound services, career exploration, job shadows, peer/cohort support and other benefits to help them achieve their goals of becoming a nurse or allied health professional!
Additionally, all Scholars Program students will commit to working at UPMC McKeesport Hospital for two years after graduation, with guaranteed job placement!
To help our Scholars reach their goals and be their best, we aim to tackle tough issues head on with them, such as academic achievement gaps, family and social issues, and lack of college preparedness.
Our goal is your success!
*Eligible programs for the UPMC McKeesport Scholars Program are listed below:
Admission to the UPMC McKeesport Scholars Program
The UPMC McKeesport Scholars Program at CCAC has specific admission requirements that must be met before a potential applicant can be considered for the Scholars Program. Additionally, once admitted to the Scholars Program, students must meet all cohort requirements and program-specific (Nursing and Allied Health) requirements to remain eligible for the Scholars Program.
For all of the requirements, see below.
Admission Requirements
Criteria
The following must be met in order to apply for the Scholars Program:
- U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (legally eligible to work in the U.S.)
- Priority given to McKeesport residents (ZIPs 15132 and 15134)
- Should reside within 1 of the 44 ZIPs listed below. Other ZIPs will be considered on a case-by-case basis. (ZIPs are based solely on drive times to a CCAC campus and to UPMC McKeesport.)
- Sign a release of information for all required documents (e.g. transcripts and test scores)
- Complete an application to the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC)
- Express a desire to pursue a profession in one of the following CCAC Health Science
programs:
- Nursing
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Dietary Manager/Dietetic Technician
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Nuclear Medicine Technology
- Phlebotomist
- Radiologic Technologist (X-ray/CAT/MRI)
- Respiratory Therapy
- Express a desire to work at UPMC McKeesport Hospital upon completion of the CCAC program
- Commit to working for UPMC McKeesport for two years after CCAC graduation, before receiving any Scholars Program funds
- Agree to allow UPMC McKeesport to review any previous or current employment history with UPMC.
- Reflect the motivation necessary for success by signing an agreement to follow all of the UPMC McKeesport Scholars Program requirements
- High school students only:
- Attain at least a “C” average in science and mathematics
- Earn a minimum 2.0 GPA
- Have a signed Parent Form on file
- Letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor (10th grade only)
- Accuplacer testing required for Dual Enrollment courses (10th grade only)
- Application review by CCAC Academic Committee for Dual Enrollment courses (10th grade only)
Three Cohorts
High School
- McKeesport HS top priority
- Other HS students who reside within one of the ZIPs listed (students who reside outside of these ZIPs will be considered on a case-by-case basis)
CCAC students
- Pre-Nursing/Pre-Allied Health (e.g., Year 1: taking prerequisites and corequisites)
- Current Nursing/Allied Health students (already admitted to the program)
Adult learners from the community
- UPMC McKeesport Hospital employees
- Local community adult learners
Cohorts Program Requirements
Cohort 1 (HS students)
- Must enroll in and complete a free SEM 103 dual enrollment course
- Must participate in the two-week-long Summer Academy 2025
- Will receive $100/week/student stipend
- Will receive free bus passes and free lunches
- Must complete 10 hours of community service (opportunities built in to the cohort and the Summer Academy)
- Must have their cameras on at all times during all remote activities (e.g., Zoom meetings) unless approval is given in advance by the Program Coordinator
- Will utilize online tutoring support through CCAC
- Will utilize peer tutoring support within their HS
- Must maintain a 2.0 GPA and a C average in HS math and science courses each semester
- Will participate in an after-school health careers club monthly
- Will participate in all other scheduled opportunities (e.g., hospital tours, job shadows, internships as available)
Cohorts 2 and 3 (CCAC students and adult learners)
- Will receive tuition and fees each semester (Scholars Program funds will be applied only after all other student funding is applied, such as Pell grants and scholarships.)
- Will receive textbooks and program-required supplies each semester
- Must work with the Program Coordinator to develop an Individual Goal Plan (IGP)
- Must meet with the Program Coordinator on a regularly scheduled basis
- Pre-Nursing/Allied Health students: every 1–2 weeks
- Current Nursing/Allied Health students: weekly
- Must participate in quarterly scheduled Scholars Program activities (e.g., job shadows, conferences, etc.)
- Must complete 10 hours of community service (opportunities built in to the cohort) each school year
- Must complete TEAS Prep courses as deemed necessary by the Program Coordinator and academic staff
- Must participate in all scheduled cohort activities (e.g., study group, exam review session, etc.)
- Must complete Confidence Builder sessions
- Must have their cameras on at all times during remote activities (e.g., Zoom meetings) unless approval is given in advance by the Program Coordinator
- Must meet all Nursing or respective Allied Health program admission requirements and program requirements to remain eligible for the Scholars Program (refer to your Program Manual)
- Specific GPA requirements:
- Pre-Nursing and Pre-Allied Health students must earn and maintain a GPA that meets their respective Nursing or Allied Health program admission requirements.
- Program Admission GPA:
- Nursing: minimum 2.8 GPA
- Allied Health:
- Minimum 2.5 GPA for DMS, Dietetic Technician, RAD, NMT
- Minimum 2.0 GPA for Dietary Manager, MLT, Phlebotomy, Respiratory Therapy and Surg Tech
ZIP Codes
15018
15020
15025
15034
15035
15037
15038
15045
15047
15063
15083
15085
15088
15104
15110
15112
15120
15121
15122
15123
15131
15132
15133
15134
15135
15137
15145
15148
15203
15206
15207
15208
15210
15211
15218
15220
15221
15227
15234
15235
15236
15332
15642
15692
This data is national aggregate data, which may or may not be reflective of current local labor market circumstances.
Contact Us
Kelly Dine
-
Coordinator, UPMC McKeesport Scholars Program - mckscholarsprogram@ccac.edu
-
South Campus
1750 Clairton Road, Office B649
West Mifflin, PA 15122
Email Us to Request More Information!
If you would like more information about our Allied Health programs, please email us!