Kirtland Community College joins two other community colleges in northern Michigan to form a regional credit transfer partnership with Ferris State University and Lake Superior State University. The new “reverse transfer agreement” creates a collaborative process in which students transferring from community college to either of these universities are able to earn their community college associate degree with the help of credits earned after transferring to the university. Qualifying students must have earned at least 45 credits at the community college prior to transfer.
Community colleges offer a number of associate degree programs equivalent to the basic course requirements for a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university, meaning many community college students are well on their way to earning an associate degree when they transfer to a university. The reverse transfer agreement provides a way for transfer students to receive an associate degree when the necessary requirements are met so as to more fully represent their academic success. The participating universities notify eligible transfer students, audit their community college transcripts, and determine eligibility for an associate degree. If the additional credits earned at the university are sufficient to meet the community college’s degree criteria, the community college will be notified and the process of awarding a degree is initiated.
An agreement formalizing the partnership was signed on Monday, June 4, 2012, by Dr. Thomas Quinn, president of Kirtland Community College, Dr. Olin Joynton, president of Alpena Community College, Dr. Cameron Brunet-Koch, president of North Central Michigan College, Dr. David Eisler, president of Ferris State University and Dr. Tony McLain, president of Lake Superior State University. Other Michigan community colleges and universities have recently signed similar agreements. The goal of all of the agreements is to provide a seamless transfer experience and increase student retention and degree completion at both levels.
Kirtland provides open access to education and cultural opportunities to enrich the lives of the people in northern Michigan. The faculty and staff seek to offer higher education in a student-focused environment, providing transfer and career technical programs; developmental studies; workforce development; personal enrichment and cultural opportunities. Annually, more than 3,000 students attend a variety of occupational, skilled trades, two-year and transfer degree programs at Kirtland’s three locations – near Roscommon, Kirtland-Gaylord and Kirtland-West Branch. Kirtland also offers a wide range of online courses and degrees, all of which can be completed from home.
For more information on programs, advising, testing, financial aid and other services available to students, contact Kirtland Admissions at 989-275-5000 ext. 284 or admissions@kirtland.edu, or visit our website at www.kirtland.edu.