University News
WIU, Eastern Iowa Community College District to Form Partnership
December 12, 2008
DAVENPORT, IA -- Eastern Iowa Community College (EICC) District students now have the opportunity to optimize their earned college credits through the Western Illinois University Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts (BOT/BA) degree program.
Eastern Iowa Community College District and Western signed an agreement today (Dec. 12) that will allow EICC students maximum transferability from all associate degrees to WIU's BOT/BA program. According to Richard Carter, director of Nontraditional Programs at WIU, students can transfer up to 80 semester hours of credit from EICC to the BOT/BA degree program and can complete BOT/BA degree requirements through online courses or by attending classes at the WIU-Quad Cities campus. The partnership provides EICC students yet another opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree from a quality institution, Carter added.
"The BOT/BA program is individualized and flexible. Our partnership with Eastern Iowa Community College District allows students to finish their associate degree at the EICC member schools -- Clinton, Scott and Muscatine Community Colleges -- and then have a seamless transfer to Western to obtain their bachelor's degree," Carter said. "EICC students will also have the benefits of Western's innovative Cost Guarantee program, which means that a student who earns his or her associate's degree in Spring 2009 and transfers to Western for the Fall 2009 semester will lock in WIU's 2008-09 tuition and fees rate."
The Board of Trustees program (originally called 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 occurred in a non-collegiate setting, such as the military or on-the-job training.
"EICC students enrolled in the BOT/BA program will have access to Eastern Iowa Community College District resources, including computer labs, so they can complete assignments and connect to their online courses. The agreement will be especially beneficial for EICC's growing number of online students, providing them the opportunity for completing their bachelor's degree," added Patricia Keir, EICC chancellor. "Being able to transfer up to 80 EICC credits is a big plus for our students. We're pleased to partner with Western to offer our students a quality, affordable education."
With this agreement, Western's BOT/BA program has partnership agreements established with 35 community colleges across Illinois and Iowa. Western's partnership with community colleges is the first of its kind.
A recent BOT/BA graduate said because of the distinctive structure of this degree program, she was able to complete her college education in a way that suited her lifestyle.
"Few other programs were as flexible as Western's," she said. "I was able to finish my bachelor's degree on my terms, without traveling to Macomb until graduation day. Had this not been possible, I still might not have a degree."
For more information on the EICC/WIU partnership, contact Carter at (309) 298-1929 or Cathy Langdon, EICC associate director for curriculum and program support, at (563) 336-5235 or clangdon@eicc.edu.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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