CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga Community College President Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton, Cleveland State University President Dr. Michael Schwartz, Kent State University President Dr. Lester A. Lefton and Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut today signed agreements creating a new Dual Admissions Partnership Program that will benefit students at the three institutions. The program will enroll students at Tri-C and CSU, or at Tri-C and Kent State, with the goal that students complete an associate degree at Tri-C while preparing for transfer to CSU or Kent State to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Students in the Dual Admissions Partnership Program will enjoy benefits that include access to a number of career services along with joint orientation and advising services. They will also receive student ID cards from both Tri-C and CSU or Tri-C and Kent State that provide them with access to libraries, sporting and other college and university events.
“This dual admissions program ensures a seamless transition for our students who earn an associate degree and then want to pursue a bachelor’s degree,” said Tri-C President Thornton. “It also provides our students access to programs and services that they otherwise could not access until they transferred to either of these great universities.”
“This agreement provides a great opportunity for our three institutions to collaborate in making quality higher education more accessible, affordable and ‘student friendly,’” said CSU President Schwartz. “I am confident that the agreement we endorse today will open up even more opportunities for sharing our programs and resources and will offer a viable option for many students who otherwise would not be able to attend college.”
“Education is crucial to all communities and this collaboration provides students with the opportunities and resources of each institution, thus providing them with the best preparation to excel and succeed,” said KSU President Lefton. “Our new connection to Cuyahoga Community College gives students a direct link to Kent State from the day they enroll and we believe it will make earning a bachelor's degree a reality for more Ohioans.”
Providing students with dual admission options where each student can select a community college and a university at the time of admission into a community college program is a key component of Ohio’s 10-year Strategic Plan for Higher Education submitted by Chancellor Fingerhut to Governor Ted Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly in March 2008.
Upon successful completion of a two-year program, the student will not have to apply for admission into the university because that admission has been pre-approved. This will save students time and paperwork because the transfer will be automatic into the university.
“This is a major step forward for Tri-C, Cleveland State, and Kent State, as well as for University System of Ohio students as a whole,” said Chancellor Fingerhut. “Dual admission is an excellent choice for students who want an affordable, high-quality college education, especially if they know from the outset that they intend to use the community college as a springboard to a bachelor’s or other advanced degree.”
The Chancellor noted that building flexibility and easy credit transfer into the system will directly lead to graduating more students from community colleges and universities and raising the education attainment level of Ohio’s workforce. “These are all factors that will help Ohio’s economy grow,” he said.
All students who meet admissions requirements at Tri-C and CSU, or at Tri-C and Kent State, are qualified for the Dual Admissions Partnership Program. It’s estimated that several hundred current Tri-C students are eligible for the program. High school students and current Tri-C students may apply by obtaining a Partnership Program application from any Tri-C, CSU or Kent State admissions office.