On Dec. 18, Salus University and Arcadia University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that creates a strategic alliance designed to enhance academic and administrative collaboration between the two universities. The agreement is effective immediately.

Arcadia, in Glenside, and Salus, in Elkins Park, will share a variety of educational resources through the MOU, including education and research of mutual interest; educational, clinical and administrative resources; community service projects; faculty and student conferences, seminars, and workshops; and international programming.

Students and faculty at both universities will benefit from this collaboration. Arcadia students and faculty will have additional opportunities provided through the health science programs at Salus, while Salus students and faculty will be able to take advantage of Arcadia’s vast opportunities abroad. Additionally, this alliance opens the ability for advanced program tracks, such as the currently established joint pre-optometry program. Through this program, students are able to complete a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree in seven years. Pre-optometry students spend their first three years at Arcadia in an Interdisciplinary Science program and then finish the final four years at Salus in a specialized program.

“This strategic alliance will enhance and make even more robust the academic experience for students at Arcadia University and help provide a much wider range of possibilities for our health science programs,” said Dr. Nicolette DeVille Christensen, president of Arcadia University. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the extraordinary faculty and staff at Salus University.”

“Our long-standing relationship is now even stronger,” said Dr. Michael H. Mittelman, president of Salus University. “Arcadia, as a globally focused institution, shares many common goals with us. This is an ideal collaboration for our students, faculties and surrounding communities.”