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 new Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions.

Dr. Dewey Clark, N.C. Wesleyan president, and Dr. Bud Marchant, CCCC president, signed the Memorandum of Understanding Sept. 9 at CCCC's Lee County Campus. 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.

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.

"Our whole scope and mission is to bring education to people in their communities," said Dr. Evan Duff, NCWC vice president of Adult and Professional Services. "With this MOU, residents of this area will have a convenient and affordable way to finish a bachelor's degree."

Starting in May 2015 at the Lee Campus, 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," Marchant said. "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 college and community college plan to develop more pathways for CCCC degree programs to merge into N.C. Wesleyan's bachelor's programs, according to Dr. Brian Merritt, CCCC vice president of Student Learning.

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.

An educational hub of N.C. Wesleyan will be set up at CCCC, with an admissions officer/advisor at the community college one or two days per month. This person 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.

"The two most significant barriers to a college education are accessibility and finances," said Jon Matthews, CCCC associate provost/dean of Business & Media Technologies, Education and University Transfer. "Through this agreement, N.C. Wesleyan is providing ease of access with an affordable package."

Those representing North Carolina Wesleyan College at the signing of the MOU were President Clark; Vice President Duff; Dr. Michael Brown, provost; Saundra Carmichael, Durham Campus director; and Katie Farrell, executive director of Community College Partnerships.

Those representing Central Carolina Community College at the signing were President Marchant; Associate Provost Matthews; and Dr. Brian Merritt, CCCC vice president of Student Learning.

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. It has been named among the top 65 community colleges in the United States by CNNMoney for its work in helping students to graduate or transfer.

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.