Bucks IU Partnership Opportunities
The Bucks County Intermediate Unit and Gwynedd Mercy University have entered a collaborative partnership to offer educational advancement opportunities for members of Bucks County Intermediate Unit.
10% Tuition Discount
Bucks IU members — including teachers and the auxiliary staff of Bucks IU's 13-member school districts and three career and technical centers — are eligible for a 10% tuition discount on select GMercyU programs.* GMercyU offers an online Bachelor of Science in Special Education degree for Bucks IU members, in addition to online graduate Education degrees and certifications. We also offer master's degrees in business, counseling, and other fields.
*This offer does not extend to students who enroll as full-time undergraduate students on the University's Gwynedd Valley campus.
Next Steps
1. Explore our programs
2. Apply or Request Information (Please mention you're a Bucks County Intermediate Unit member.)Request information
3. Start your GMercyU journey to advance your career!
Bucks IU Grow Your Own Teacher Partnership Program
To address the shortage of master's-degree prepared, certified teachers in Bucks County, GMercyU and the Bucks County Intermediate Unit launched a partnership. Bucks IU employees with a bachelor's degree who are currently working as paraprofessionals — and/or are currently serving as a Teacher of Record on an Emergency Certification issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) — may be selected by Bucks IU to earn a Master of Education or Master of Special Education at GMercyU, with the related PDE teaching certification at no cost!
The Bucks IU covers all course tuition and fees for each Bucks IU employee who is selected for this teacher certification program.
Bucks IU Apprenticeship Program for Special Education Teachers
To address a critical shortage in special education teaching, GMercyU, Bucks IU, and Bucks County Community College have partnered to launch Pennsylvania’s first undergraduate apprenticeship program designed specifically to train and certify PK-12 special education teachers.
If selected by the Bucks IU for this program, paraprofessionals employed by Bucks IU can earn their Pennsylvania Special Education Teaching Certification and a Bachelor of Science in Special Education while continuing to work full-time, completing their first 60 credits through Bucks County Community College, and their remaining credits at GMercyU with fully online courses. Their on-the-job experience will satisfy field experience requirements, and student teaching will take place within the Bucks IU system.