(l-r: Dr. McDavis and Dr. Light)
NELSONVILLE - Transferring credit from some Hocking College programs to like programs at Ohio University will soon be much easier. A memorandum of understanding was signed on Monday by Hocking College President John Light and Ohio University President Roderick McDavis that broadens access and opportunity for students choosing to further their education beyond an associate degree.
The presidents called it an umbrella agreement, saying there have been unofficial articulation agreements in the past but that this agreement promotes a strong foundation for transfer and will allow joint marketing of programs by both.
Articulation agreements will establish 2 + 2 programs ensuring Hocking College credits are directly applied to Ohio University degree programs and will be accepted as transfer credit at Ohio University, according to the agreement.
The agreement was called a win/win for students. “This is who will really benefit,” said President Light. “We’ve had a defacto agreement for 40 years but this makes it more formal and says plainly what students who wish to transfer credits can expect as they pursue a higher degree.”
President McDavis said legislators are calling for more collaboration and cooperation among two and four year universities and colleges. “There have been other agreements under other Ohio University presidents with Hocking and other colleges. This agreement identifies specific courses as we reach out and encourage even more transferability between the institutions. We’re hoping this will benefit students from throughout the region as they pursue their educational goals and that we’ll have a positive impact on our area’s economic development efforts,” President McDavis said.
Articulation agreements are nearly complete for social work and nursing and additional agreements are being discussed in education and communications between Hocking and OU.
Both presidents agreed that changes in curriculums could result on both campuses as articulation agreements are finalized. “This is why it’s a partnership, we are both coming to the table and we’re agreeing more than we’re disagreeing,” President Light said.
President McDavis said agreements will be more effective when faculty work together in taking the wrinkles out of seamless curriculums. He added that Ohio University will assign a staff person to work on Hocking’s campus with the program.
Myriah Short, dean of Hocking’s New College, and Dr. Bill Willan, associate vice president of University Outreach and Regional Campuses at Ohio University, collaborated on the memorandum of agreement and details of the nearly completed articulation agreements.
|
