SLCC a pipeline to Westminster's business program
'Articulation' » Agreements streamline higher ed.
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 09/01/2009 09:44:38 AM MDT
By Brian Maffly
Salt Lake Community College's network of "articulation" agreements allow students to "seamlessly" transfer their credits to many of the state's public four-year programs.
On Monday, officials signed off on another agreement, this one benefiting business administration students transferring to Westminster College, the private liberal arts college in Salt Lake City. The new agreement gives students a chance to earn a prestigious private school degree in just three years while enjoying community college tuition and convenience at SLCC as they earn an associate's degree, SLCC President Cynthia Bioteau said. Once at Westminster, students will need to pay the much higher Westminster tuition.
"We guarantee students not only the courses they need, but they can be in and out [of SLCC] in 14 months. That's a huge acceleration," Bioteau said. "They cut their costs for a bachelors of business administration by one year. Just as important is they can do it in a year less. That kind of streamlined education is what all programs in higher education will need to look at."
SLCC is looking to develop articulation arrangements for its accelerated allied health and nursing programs.
The new partnership benefits Westminster by ensuring that incoming business administration students are prepared.
"Since launching the BBA, we have had many adults apply who have not yet fully completed their [associate's degree]," said Aric Krause, dean of Westminster's
Division of New Learning. "With this agreement, we can advise these students to complete the necessary coursework through Salt Lake Community College's online accelerated business program before enrolling at Westminster."
SLCC, which operates from 14 locations around Salt Lake County, maintains articulation agreements with all the state's public universities and the private University of Phoenix.
"Because people can start at community college and articulate into a four-year school, students don't have to start over," Bioteau said. "Our students are on average 26 years old. They don't have time to fool around."
In one example of cross-college articulation, SLCC funnels about 125 students into the University of Utah's honors program each fall -- about one-fourth of each incoming honors class.
"We have lots of students who figure out how smart they are at SLCC. We've made it easy for them to transfer to our program. Not all have associates [degrees]," said Martha Bradley, dean of the U.'s Honors College. "It's been exciting for us."
bmaffly@sltrib.com
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13241574
