SANFORD -- North Carolina Wesleyan College and Central Carolina Community College are making four-year college degrees more accessible to people in CCCC's service area of Chatham, Harnett and Lee counties, thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions.
The MOU enables graduates of specified CCCC programs to enroll at N.C. Wesleyan, but take many of their Wesleyan classes at the Lee Campus. Both schools encourage students to complete their associate degree studies first.
Registration is under way for the first course on the CCCC Lee Campus, which will be offered during the eight-week session summer term June 29-Aug. 22. The course, Introduction to Literature, will be taught on Tuesdays from 6 to 10 p.m. Registration ends June 22.
Elementary Statistics will be offered in the first eight-week fall term, with registration ending Aug. 17. Principles of Economics I and Introduction to Religion will be offered in the second eight-week fall term, with registration ending Oct. 12.
NCWC's Raeshel Robinson Brown, Admissions/Recruiting, Office of Adult and Professional Studies, will be at CCCC every second Thursday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Student Center. She will advise students, recruit other community college graduates in the area, assist them with paperwork, and direct students to financial aid and other offices at N.C. Wesleyan. She can be reached by email at rbrown@ncwc.edu.
This partnership falls under N.C. Wesleyan's ASPIRE (Adult Student Programs: Innovative, Respected, Engaging) program for those who want a bachelor's degree, but because of time or other constraints find it hard to attend a college outside of their county.
N.C. Wesleyan will offer up to 24 percent of the credits needed for four specific bachelor's degrees. Following completion of those courses, students will have the option to complete their bachelor's degree studies either online or at N.C. Wesleyan campus in Raleigh-Durham. Students should be able to transfer in 40-50 percent of the coursework from their associate's degree.
"We are committed to student success, not just in the programs we offer, but in helping our students achieve what they want to achieve," said CCCC President Dr. T.E. Marchant. "N.C. Wesleyan's bringing this partnership to our campus will help our students achieve what they might not otherwise achieve. This is very unique. I'm looking forward to it."
Graduates of CCCC's Business Administration program will be able to take classes toward a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. Accounting graduates will be able to take courses toward a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Criminal Justice graduates will be able to study toward a bachelor's degree in that field.
Those with associate degrees in Healthcare Management, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Management, Office Administration, Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting will be able to earn credits toward an N.C. Wesleyan Bachelor of Science in Organizational Administration.
The Memorandum of Understanding also provides other important benefits for CCCC graduates. Even though NCWC is a private institution, tuition for the programs covered in the MOU will be equal to or less than the North Carolina university system's cost of attendance, benchmarked against N.C. State and UNC.
North Carolina Wesleyan College is a private four-year, co-educational liberal arts college with its main campus in Rocky Mount. It also serves students at nine satellite campuses. The school is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate degrees. It is a member of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church, but is open to all regardless of religious beliefs.
Central Carolina Community College is a public coeducational institution with campuses and centers in Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties. It offers a wide variety of associate degree programs, as well as diplomas and certificates in curriculum, continuing education, and adult basic education.
For more information about CCCC, visit www.cccc.edu. For more information about N.C. Wesleyan, visit www.ncwc.edu or call 800-488-6292.