Rowan Cabarrus Community College (RCCC): Special Feature

RCCC Simplifies Transfer Process

By Justin Vick, Independent Tribune
Tuesday, November 28, 2006

SALISBURY - Rowan-Cabarrus Community College entered into an agreement Monday that will simplify student transfers into Catawba College, a private, four-year college in Salisbury affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

The agreement, signed by leaders from both schools during RCCC's monthly board of trustees meeting, show will show associate-degree graduates how specific classes taken at RCCC will fulfill general education requirements for Catawba's bachelor-degree programs.

The agreement will be made available to faculty members who serve as academic advisors and be used during the degree audit process, said Gaye McConnell, RCCC's vice president of student services.

"It details for us exactly which courses student need to take here to transition with the greatest ease to Catawba College," McConnell said.

Articulation agreements have existed among the state's public schools since 1996, when legislation was signed to make transferring from the North Carolina Community College System to the University of North Carolina System smoother.

Community colleges that seek such agreements with private schools have to perform their own negotiations, McConnell said.

RCCC signed a similar agreement with the Cabarrus College of Health Sciences last month that eased the transition into the health college's nursing bachelor-degree completion program.

"The continued partnership between RCCC and Catawba provides our students with greater opportunities in achieving their educational goals," said RCCC President Richard Brownell. "Agreements such as this highlight the benefit of our colleges in the community."

Catawba College is looking forward to joining RCCC in providing better education opportunities for students in the region, President Robert Knott said. "We hope this is just the beginning of a long, cooperative relationship."

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Contact Justin Vick at jvick@independenttribune.com or at
(704) 789-9138.