Officials with the University of Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas Community College signed an agreement Tuesday to make it easier for students to transfer credit hours.
The agreement allows eligible NWACC students who transfer to the U of A with at least 24 credit hours to earn their NWACC associate’s degree by completing 12 more hours at the university. To be eligible, the student must have earned at least 60 hours total.
NWACC President Dr. Becky Paneitz said earning an associates can boost a student's confidence to move on to the next level.
“Sometimes their lack of confidence and their lack of thinking that they can achieve something like an associate`s degree, just the impact of having that happen, having that piece of paper that says ‘Yes, you have an associate`s degree,’” she said. “That means ‘Yes, I can go on and get that bachelor’s degree and I can go on and get a master’s degree.’”
The NWACC credit hours can also be used toward completing the student’s bachelor`s degree at the university.
To qualify for the reverse credit transfer, an NWACC student will have to maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average; maintain or improve that average after transferring to the University of Arkansas; complete the state minimum core requirements; and be a degree-seeking student in good academic standing at the university, according to a news release from NWACC.
This is the latest in a series of agreements between the University of Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas Community College intended to increase access to higher education for students in this region and the state, according to a news release.
"This is a great opportunity for students at both schools, and for the state as well,” said university Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “It is important for our students to have a transfer process that is seamless and productive. As a Students First institution, this is simply another way of serving our students, and our state."
For more information, visit www.nwacc.edu or http://www.uark.edu