Leaders from Sandhills Community College and Western Governors University have announced a new transfer agreement between the two institutions. SCC graduates and employees will now have access to flexible, personalized learning pathways to higher education and professional development through WGU. The agreement formalizes the transfer of applicable academic credits between the schools, so SCC graduates will not have to retake courses if they transfer to WGU.
WGU will waive the application fee for any SCC graduate or employee who enrolls at WGU. Additionally, SCC graduates, staff and faculty will be able to apply for specially designated WGU Community College Partner Scholarships valued at $2,500 each. Tuition is around $4,000 per six-month term for most WGU bachelor’s degree programs.
WGU is a nonprofit, accredited online university offering more than 80 bachelor’s and master’s degrees and certificate programs in business, IT, health care and K-12 education. The university’s asynchronous programs are designed to fit into busy work and home schedules, so students can log in, study and take tests any time day or night. As a competency-based university, WGU offers students the option to take as many courses as they want per term with the consent of their assigned program mentor.
The university has more than 176,000 students enrolled nationwide, including more than 5,400 in North Carolina. Nearly 9,200 WGU alumni live across all 100 counties in the state.
“We are excited to enter into this agreement with WGU,” said Rebecca Roush, Ph.D., provost of Sandhills Community College. “For many of our graduates, a traditional education is not possible. Sandhills students will have access to continue their education and training through WGUs online programs and be eligible for financial support through WGU’s partner scholarships.”
“Since 1963, Sandhills Community College has been educating residents of Central North Carolina and preparing them for successful careers,” said Ben Coulter, Ed.D., chancellor of WGU North Carolina and Southeast regional director of WGU. “As employers’ needs change throughout the state, we look forward to collaborating with SCC to help develop an educated and engaged workforce for today and into the future.”
To learn more about Sandhills Community College, visit www.sandhills.edu. For more information about WGU, visit www.wgu.edu.
Feature photo by Sandhills Sentinel photographer Melissa Schaub.
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