Milton Hershey School and Mount St. Mary’s University Partner to Support Low-Income, First-Generation College Students

Milton Hershey School and Mount St. Mary’s University announced that they entered into a formal partnership to provide more focused support to help students from Milton Hershey School—many of whom are the first in their families to attend college—succeed at Mount St. Mary’s University.

Together, leaders from Milton Hershey School and Mount St. Mary’s University will work to improve the graduation rate for low-income, first-generation college students. Both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formalizes and expands the collaboration, specifying steps to be taken to attract more Milton Hershey School students to Mount St. Mary’s University while improving their retention and graduation rates.

“At Milton Hershey School we are working to ensure that our graduates have the ability to thrive academically, socially and emotionally during college,” said Milton Hershey School Vice President of Graduate Programs for Success Tanya Baynham. “Through our partnership with Mount St. Mary’s University, students will have access to sustained support that will help them navigate their educational journey with confidence and individualized guidance.”

Milton Hershey School graduates who attend Mount St. Mary’s University will receive resources and support to guide them throughout the duration of their entire college experience. Students will have access to a wide array of resources that will allow them to not only graduate from college but thrive while there. These will include:

• Pre-college programming for Milton Hershey School students prior to entering Mount St. Mary’s University that will introduce them to student life, academic expectations and resources;
• Academic support while at Mount St. Mary’s University that will include small group sessions centered around planning, utilizing campus academic and personal services and gaining skills in time management and class preparation; and
• Assistance with finding and securing on-campus work-study employment as well as summer employment.

“The excellent work of Tanya Baynham and her team at Milton Hershey School in preparing students for a university experience aligns with Mount St. Mary’s commitment to educate each student to lead lives of significance by supporting and encouraging them on their academic journeys,” said Mount St. Mary’s University President Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D. “We are honored to be the first university outside of Pennsylvania to partner with Milton Hershey School and look forward to welcoming their graduates.”

Milton Hershey School’s Graduate Programs for Success (GPS) Division has partnered with more than 18 postsecondary institutions. In addition to the individualized guidance offered at each institution, Milton Hershey School’s career and higher education specialists provide comprehensive support throughout the duration of college.

The partnership with Mount St. Mary’s University is part of Milton Hershey School’s ongoing commitment to strengthen its graduates’ postsecondary experiences and improve the national college graduation outcome for financially disadvantaged students.