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North Central State College and Ohio University Partnership Enhances Accessibility and Affordability of Bachelor’s Degree for Mansfield Area Students August 13, 2009 North Central State College students with aspirations of pursuing a bachelor’s degree will now be able to continue their academic pursuits without leaving home, as Ohio University and NC State have finalized a unique seamless agreement which will expand higher education opportunities for area residents throughout the region. As a result of the new partnership, students will be afforded the opportunity to obtain a bachelor’s degree by completing three years of higher education at NC State followed by one year of academic courses through Ohio University’s distance learning program. The two academic institutions will announce the new articulation partnership at a signing ceremony Thursday, August 13 at 1 p.m. in the President’s Board Room in Fallerius Hall.
“By partnering with Ohio University, we open doors for our graduates to pursue additional education and advanced degrees. It’s exactly the type of collaboration Governor Strickland, and Chancellor Fingerhut, are promoting as we re-tool higher education in the State of Ohio,” said Don Plotts, president of NC State. “We hope to build on the success of this initial agreement and look at other opportunities for graduates of NC State to complete their bachelor’s degree at Ohio University.” Greater access to higher education is imperative if Ohio is to compete successfully in the global economy, Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut has said. Chancellor Fingerhut has challenged Ohio’s colleges and universities to find new ways of working together to meet the measures set forth in the state’s strategic plan for higher education, including the percentage of bachelor’s degree recipients with academic credits from a community college. He has stated that the result of creating opportunities for students to attend multiple institutions on a single campus will have an immediate impact on increasing the number of college graduates. One of the first results of the agreement will do just that. Beginning January 2010, the collaboration between NC State and Ohio University will offer individuals, who have earned an associate’s degree in a technical field from NC State, an opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University without leaving the Mansfield area. Two different degree programs will be offered initially as part of the new articulation agreement, providing NC State students with flexible options to meet degree requirements. NC State students will have the opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Technical and Applied Sciences degree by maximizing transfer of credits earned from any of the College’s Associate of Applied Science or Applied Business degree programs. In addition, Ohio University’s Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree will provide a convenient and affordable advancement path for those NC State students who have completed an associate’s degree in a criminal justice area. While pursuing their bachelor’s degree, students will have the option of taking some academic courses from NC State and others online from Ohio University, as well as completing over half of the curriculum requirements or more at NC State. “This partnership is an example of higher education finding new ways to serve the citizens of Ohio through close collaboration and the smart use of technology," said Charles Bird, vice provost of Ohio University Outreach. "We are pleased to provide an opportunity for students to enroll in one of our excellent bachelor's degree programs, when their work and family circumstances prevent them from attending one of our campuses.” In addition to convenience, the new programs will provide affordable options for students who may not desire or be able to relocate by offering an average savings of about 40 percent on the cost of tuition toward a bachelor’s degree as compared to a more traditional four-year residential campus course of study at public universities and colleges in Ohio. The partnership also streamlines transfer of credits, student services and financial aid activities for students in the program, making the ability to move between the two institutions’ systems seamless. North Central State College, located on 600 scenic acres in Mansfield, and at the Kehoe Center in Shelby, currently enrolls 3,600 students in fields of study which include Health Sciences, Engineering Technology, Public Service and Business, as well as contract training in partnership with dozens of businesses throughout north central Ohio. Chartered in 1804, Ohio University is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools at bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Students come from every state in the union and 100 different countries. Currently enrolling more than 29,000 students on the Athens campus and five regional campuses, Ohio University offers over 275 undergraduate majors through 10 academic colleges and the Center for International Studies. The university also offers master's degrees in nearly all areas, 20 doctoral degrees, and a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine. More information about the academic programs available through the NC State and Ohio University articulation agreement, visit www.ohio.edu/ncstate or contact: Bruce Sliney, Ph.D. Or Hank Thomas |
| University Outreach Community College Partnerships Call: 1-888-502-8989 Email: ccpartners@ohio.edu |
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