Alumni & Supporters

PEPSICO Foundation Provides $1 Million for Purchase College Baccalaureate and Beyond Center: Liberal Arts Program

The PepsiCo Foundation will provide a $1 million grant to the Baccalaureate and Beyond Center at Purchase College for the support of the Liberal Arts Program. This nationally acclaimed Center was established in 2001 by Purchase College to expand educational opportunities for a wider and a more diverse number of students from Community Colleges to enable them to complete four-year degrees.

The programs under the umbrella of the Baccalaureate and Beyond Center work successfully with students from community colleges located in Westchester, Dutchess, Sullivan and Nassau Counties.  The program is for students who are studying math and science and the liberal arts. 

The new grant will focus on liberal arts studies and will provide $200,000 per year for each of five years. Over 720 students will participate in the program.  The emphasis will be on students who are majoring in the social sciences, humanities or are undeclared liberal arts majors.

“We are extremely grateful to the PepsiCo Foundation for their foresight and generosity in supporting this program,” said Thomas J. Schwarz President of Purchase College. “PepsiCo’s leadership and commitment to diversity and increased access to education is nationally recognized. Hundreds of students will realize their dreams as they prepare for careers that require well educated individuals with the skills and flexibility to adapt to the ever-changing requirements in the workforce,” said President Schwarz.

The Baccalaureate and Beyond Center provides a full range of services including high standards and skill building while greatly increasing student motivation. Students have opportunities to complete academic work and strengthen reading and writing capabilities while receiving intensive academic advising and mentoring by faculty and upper division students.  Teamwork, problem-solving and time management are among the skills presented through the program.  Workshops on career opportunities with an emphasis on the importance of liberal arts degrees are presented with the involvement of PepsiCo employees.

The variety of services provided by the program include intensive academic year and summer programs to assist community college students to succeed academically, build their understanding of career options available to Bachelor’s degree graduates and increase their critical thinking, reading, writing, quantitative and research skills.  The program helps a very diverse student population to complete their Associate degrees through a seamless transfer component that provides admission to Purchase College for participating students who maintain a required grade point average.

The students selected for the program work closely with faculty and mentors from Purchase College and the Community College while completing their studies at the Community College.  The programs are designed to meet individual needs of students as they complete their Bachelors degrees, and plan for graduate school or work beyond graduation.