An agreement signed between Mountain State University and New River Community & Technical College will provide NRCTC students with a seamless transition into MSU’s many bachelor’s-level programs.

“By MSU and NRCTC agreeing to do things in a collaborative sense in relation to a student’s goals and objects, a student will not be disenfranchised going from one higher education institution to the next,” MSU President Charles Polk said. “It will no longer be guesswork for the students on transferring credits.”

Under the new articulation agreement, students who have earned a two-year degree from NRCTC can transfer those credits to MSU, where they have the option of completing a bachelor’s degree in arts or sciences.

“I’m extremely excited about the opportunities this agreement opens up for our students,” said Carolyn Sizemore, dean of NRCTC’s Beckley campus. “As the newest independently accredited institution, our rapid growth attests to our commitment to our students. This growth presents an opportunity both to our students and to MSU because our students can now make a seamless transition into MSU.”

NRCTC President Ted Spring says the agreement allows students to better plan long-term education goals.

“The articulation agreement really sets up the opportunity to plan forward for their college career,” he said. “It’s another tool for us to speak to parents about their child’s college education and future. It provides another option for starting a long-term college education.”

Spring said the agreement will reduce duplication of a student’s effort and time by allowing the transfer of academic credits earned through NRCTC and their application toward MSU degree requirements.

“It means students who earn their associate degree at NRCTC can refer to MSU’s course equivalency matrix to see how their course work will transfer for the purposes of completing their bachelor’s degree,” he said.

Polk says MSU has articulate agreements with a few other community colleges.

“The issue of cooperation has not been one that has really been pressed in West Virginia; therefore, you see public institutions not cooperating with other public institutions,” he said. “The end result is the disenfranchisement of the student.”

Both educational institutions plan to use the agreement as a vehicle to develop and disseminate career awareness and career education related to higher education and future employment to the students of both of the schools.

“We are really broadening the base of students who will go to college in West Virginia,” Spring said. “When they have a relationship established with MSU, then they will go there. I think the agreement works really well for everyone.”

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