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On March 2, WIU and Highland Community College administrators signed an agreement to allow for a seamless transition from HCC to WIU's Department of Broadcasting. Pictured, from left, are HCC Instructor Jim Yeager; WIU Broadcasting Chair William "Buzz" Hoon; HCC Board of Trustees Chair Doug Block; HCC President Tim Hood and WIU College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean Billy Clow.
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WIU Signs Community College Agreement with Highland Community College

March 10, 2016

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MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University and Highland Community College (HCC) in Freeport (IL), have signed agreements to allow students enrolled at Highland to seamlessly transfer to Western to complete a degree in broadcasting.

The agreement, signed March 2, will allow for Highland students to complete the requirements for a two-year Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in mass communication. Students may then transfer to WIU for their final two years and be eligible to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcasting with a choice of emphasis in sports broadcasting, news/performance or production.

"This partnership with Highland Community College is a perfect example of how higher education in the state of Illinois can work," said College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean Billy Clow. "Together, two excellent institutions committed to bringing opportunity to students and providing them with the tools they can use to create a bright and successful future. The College of Fine Arts and Communication looks forward to working closely with President Hood and expanding our partnerships with Highland."

WIU Broadcasting Chair William "Buzz" Hoon said the partnership with HCC will allow Western to "bring in quality students that are ready to continue their education and contribute right away to our award-winning program."

HCC President Tim Hood praised the new agreement, saying he is also pleased with the immediate success of the new mass communication program at HCC.

"Collaborating with WIU to create a transfer pathway significantly enhances learning and career opportunities for current and future students at Highland," said Hood.

HCC speech and mass communication instructor Jim Yeager added that the partnership creates a unique opportunity for current and future students.

"With this agreement, we use the best of our collective resources to give students from northwest Illinois the opportunity to start their education at Highland in a small class environment with personalized attention at a highly affordable rate, and then build on that foundation of skills in an engaging and rigorous program at WIU, with a phenomenal job placement rate and an impressive and active alumni network," he said.

For more information about the WIU Department of Broadcasting, visit wiu.edu/broadcasting.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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