UMO and Vance-Granville Community College Partner to Enhance College Transfer
The University of Mount Olive and Vance-Granville Community College Partner to Enhance College Transfer
MOUNT OLIVE- According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, 15 percent of community college students who transfer lose nearly all of their credits in the process, costing them precious time and money. Another third lose a significant proportion of their credits. In all, students who transfer from any kind of college or university to another lose an average of 13 credits when they do, and nearly 40 percent get no credit for the work they’ve already completed. That is exactly what a recent agreement between the University of Mount Olive (UMO) and Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC) plans to guard against.
UMO and VGCC have reached a partnership agreement that will enhance and expand options for community college students. Through the partnership agreement, VGCC students who have earned an associate in applied science (AAS) degree in either Nursing, Business Administration, Criminal Justice Technology or Early Childhood Education can transfer seamlessly into an array of programs at UMO.
In the partnership, UMO and VGCC will enhance and expand the University of Mount Olive’s participation as a signatory institution in the Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA) between the N.C. Community College System and the N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities. This agreement honors the transfer of associate in arts and associate in science graduates’ programs of study. It also allows VGCC students to be eligible to apply for all state and federal financial aid.
To make it even easier, the University of Mount Olive will regularly have an admission representative on site at VGCC for advising students interested in transferring. VGCC will also encourage students to explore transferring to UMO by promoting the partnership in publications and on the college website (www.vgcc.edu). VGCC will also distribute UMO and UMO Bridge printed materials through VGCC admissions, advising, and AAS degree program advisors.
UMO will provide current VGCC students and recent graduates guaranteed admission and acceptance of appropriate transfer hours, up to 64 credits from specified AAS programs with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. VGCC graduates will be eligible for consideration of the full range of academic programs at University of Mount Olive locations.
The partnership between UMO and VGCC is what Dr. Philip P. Kerstetter, president of the University of Mount Olive, says will create an excellent opportunity for community college students to continue their education and prepare them for the future.
“As Vance-Granville Community College seeks to educate, inspire and support our diverse student community, this partnership with the University of Mount Olive gives our students additional options for furthering their education,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC. “A clear and established pathway to a bachelor’s degree with an institution like UMO will help our students succeed and grow as professionals.”
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Research Triangle Park, Washington, Jacksonville, and in Smithfield at Johnston Community College. For more information, visit old.umo.edu.
