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Bachelor of Arts in General Studies

WIU, IECC Partnership

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) students now have the opportunity to complete Western Illinois University's Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree (BGS; formerly called the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts degree) via distance learning options.

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges and Western entered into a partnership in late summer that allows all students attending one of the four IECC schools maximum transferability from all associate degrees to WIU's BGS program. IECC is comprised of Frontier Community College (Fairfield), Lincoln Trail College (Robinson), Olney Central College and Wabash Valley College (Mt. Carmel).

According to Richard Carter, director of Western's School of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach, students can transfer up to 80 semester hours of credit from an IECC school to the BGS program and can complete Western's degree requirements through online courses. The partnership provides placebound IECC students an opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree from a quality public institution, Carter added.

"The BGS program is individualized and flexible. Our partnership with IECC allows their students to finish their associate degree at their respective community college within the IECC district and have a seamless transfer to Western to obtain their bachelor's degree while remaining in their home community," Carter said. "IECC students will also have the benefits of Western's innovative Cost Guarantee program, which means that a student who earns his or her associate degree in Spring 2011 and transfers to Western for the Fall 2011 semester will lock in Western's 2010-11 tuition and fees rate."

The General Studies degree program (originally called the Board of Governors program) was created in 1972 to serve adult students who are unable to attend a traditional college program due to family, work or community obligations. Rather than requiring a specific major, the program allows the student to design her or his program to meet individual educational goals. Students may also be eligible for academic credit for college-level learning that was done in a non-collegiate setting, such as the military or on-the-job training.

"Another unique aspect of the partnership is that Illinois Eastern Community College students enrolled in the BGS program will have access to IECC resources, including computer labs, so they can complete assignments and connect to their online courses," Carter added.

Western's BGS program has partnership agreements with 52 other community colleges in the state of Illinois and throughout the U.S. For more information on the BGS program, visit wiu.edu/bgs or contact Carter at 309-298-1929 or R-Carter@wiu.edu.

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