KALAMAZOO, Mich., Nov. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/
-- Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Ferris State University Tuesday announced a new
program to help Kalamazoo Valley
students transfer seamlessly to Ferris State
University. The Building Pathways program was unveiled
during a ceremony at Kalamazoo Valley's
University Center at its Texas Township Campus, which opened six
years ago to allow partner universities to offer onsite classes
culminating in a four-year degree. Ferris is the center's third
partner school.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
President L. Marshall Washington,
Ph.D., said the partnership is another pipeline for Kalamazoo Valley students to earn four-year
degrees, which he said could aid them financially down the
road.
"We all know being able to attain an associate degree provides
an opportunity for students to advance their earning potential,"
Washington said. "But more so when you are able to receive a
bachelor's degree beyond that, it compounds that earning
potential."
Ferris State University approached
Kalamazoo Valley about a transfer
partnership earlier this year after noticing a sizeable number of
Valley students not only transferring but, in fact, successfully
obtaining their degrees. Between 2014 and 2019, 120 Kalamazoo Valley students transferred to Ferris,
according to Robert P. Fleischman,
provost and vice president for academic affairs at Ferris. All
obtained their bachelor's degree, with almost two-thirds doing so
in two or three-years' time.
Speaking at the transfer agreement signing ceremony, Ferris
President David L. Eisler, Ph.D.,
said: "As we walked your facilities, it's easy to see how our
institutions fit together because we have similar programs, and we
have similar principles and similar aspirations. We're here to
eliminate the institutional barriers so that students can
succeed."
Under the agreement, Kalamazoo
Valley students enrolled in the Michigan Reconnect and
Futures for Frontliners scholarship programs can take up to 12
hours of credit from Ferris State
University before completing their associate degree at the
same tuition rate as the in-district community college rate, a
substantial savings, according to Paige
Eagan, Ph.D., provost and vice president for instruction and
student services at Kalamazoo Valley Community
College.
"We are excited to be able to offer this unique opportunity to
Kalamazoo Valley's Future for
Frontliners and Michigan Reconnect students," Eagan said. "Their
frontline service during the height of the pandemic, or their
decision to continue their education as an adult learner, is
applauded."
Eagan said this reduced tuition would only be available to
students while they were enrolled at the community college,
encouraging completion of the associate degree. These community
college students will be directly admitted into Ferris State University as they pursue both their
associate and bachelor degrees.
Bachelor courses would be available on the community college
campus through Ferris State University
and online.
Students from these programs would be eligible for additional
transfer scholarship assistance when fully enrolled at Ferris State University. The Building Pathways
program will be available to students beginning with the Winter
Semester 2022. Classes begin Jan. 10.
For more information, visit:
http://www.kvcc.edu/universitycenter/.
In addition to Ferris State
University, other University Center partners include
Davenport University and Siena Heights University.
ABOUT Kalamazoo Valley Community
College
Established in 1966, Kalamazoo Valley
Community College offers certificate programs in more than
50 areas of study and associate degrees in 60 others. These include
business, healthcare, human and public service, and technical
occupations, culinary arts and brewing training. It has four
Kalamazoo, Mich., locations,
including the Texas Township Campus, the Groves Campus, the Arcadia
Commons Campus and the Bronson Healthy Living Campus. Classes are
available during the day, evening, online and weekends.
ABOUT Ferris State University
Ferris State University is a mid-sized
four-year public university based in Big
Rapids, Mich. It has a large selection of academic programs,
ranging from associate to doctoral degrees, offered through seven
degree-granting colleges. Ferris began in 1884 as a privately-owned
industrial school, becoming a state institution in 1950 and later a
state university in 1987.
Media Contact:
Linda Depta
Executive Director of KVCC Foundation
Director of Fund Development
269.488.4821 or ldepta@kvcc.edu
Media Contact
Dawn Kemp, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, 269.488.4685,
dkemp@kvcc.edu
SOURCE Kalamazoo Valley Community
College