For Immediate Release
Contact:
Matthew Cookson, USNH: 603-862-0904
Matt.cookson@usnh.edu
Shannon
Reid, CCSNH: 603-271-2795
sreid@ccsnh.edu
Connections Program to Provide New Higher Education Pathways for NH Students
March 12, 2008 - A new cooperative effort between the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) and the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) will create seamless pathways to a four year degree for many New Hampshire students. The Connections Program enables students who were originally not accepted to the University of New Hampshire (UNH), Plymouth State University, and Keene State College to attend one of the state’s community colleges or Granite State College and be automatically accepted into their original four-year college of choice if they meet certain performance measures. Through this streamlined pathway all credits will transfer, no new application is required, and no application fees are due.
The Connections Program represents an expansion of a successful model that has been in place since fall 2005 between UNH in Durham and the Stratham campus of the community college system (recently renamed Great Bay Community College). Through this partnership, students who were not originally accepted to UNH received a letter from UNH notifying them that they could attend the community college at Stratham, and if they attended full time and met the educational goals of the program, they would automatically be accepted into UNH the following year.
"To keep New Hampshire's economy growing now and in the future, we need an educated workforce. That is why it is so important that we keep higher education affordable and accessible to more of our young people. This Connections Program will help us reach that goal by increasing the connections between the university and community college systems," Gov. Lynch said. "This program will make it easier for more New Hampshire citizens to earn a four-year college degree by creating a smoother transfer of credits from the community college system to the university system. I applaud our state's two public higher education systems for moving forward with this important program."
"The Connections Program will enhance access to higher education for more New Hampshire students who want to pursue a four-year degree by giving them a new pathway to attend the four-year college of their choice," said USNH Chancellor Stephen Reno. "This effort represents a high level of coordination and cooperation between the state’s two public systems of higher education and ultimately benefits the students through a simple, seamless, and cost-free transfer between the systems."
"In addition to offering a well-defined pathway to students initially not admitted to UNH, Keene, or Plymouth, the Connections program enables students to save on college costs in the first year by paying community college tuition before transferring on to the four-year institution," said CCSNH Chancellor Richard Gustafson. "Students will receive transfer counseling and advising from both institutions to ensure that they follow the appropriate academic path and meet their goals to transfer successfully."
Beginning this spring, New Hampshire residents who were not accepted to one of the three USNH residential institutions will receive a letter that explains the Connections Program and encourages them to consider beginning their education at one of the state’s seven community colleges or at Granite State College. After a year of full-time study at one of the community colleges, students can transfer to the USNH residential institution where they originally applied, with no application or fee, and will be admitted with all credits transferring depending on the courses they took and their performance in the classes. Specific requirements vary among the three institutions. A chart summarizing the requirements follows and more details can be found at www.nhtransfer.org/connections, a web site that includes information about transferring from one NH college to another.
|
UNH |
PSU |
KSC |
|
Students are encouraged to take a minimum of 12 credits each of two consecutive semesters. |
Students are encouraged to take a minimum of 12 credits each for two consecutive semesters |
Students are encouraged to take a minimum of 12 credits for two consecutive semesters |
|
Must earn a minimum of 24 college-level semester credits. |
Must earn at least 24 credits in a minimum of 6 academic classes over one academic year |
Must earn a minimum of 24 college-level credits |
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Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 |
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 |
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 |
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No grade below C |
No grade below C |
No grade below C |
|
Must complete following course work as part of the required 24 credits:
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Must complete following course work as part of the required 24 credits (developmental course work does not count towards the 24 credits):
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Must complete following course work as part of the required 24 credits (developmental course work does not count towards the 24 credits):
|
"For me, the Connection Program has been a great stepping stone into UNH. It gave me a chance to show them I could get the grades that they were looking for in their students and allowed me to go to the school I’ve always wanted to attend," said Jake Hayward, a sophomore business major who transferred from Great Bay Community College to UNH last year through this program. "I encourage students to see if this could be an option for them."
Students must indicate their interest in the Connections Program when they apply to a CCSNH institution or to Granite State College. Participants will receive individualized transfer counseling and advising to ensure that they are taking courses that will transfer and will meet course requirements for their planned field of study. Depending on their field of study, the student could continue at a community college or Granite State College for up to two years full time before transferring, further reducing the overall cost of their education. If they meet the Connection Program criteria, they are automatically accepted at the institution where the originally applied (note: they are accepted into that particular institution, not any or all of the USNH institutions). Successful students will be guaranteed housing at Keene State College. Plymouth State University and the University of New Hampshire have not yet made a final determination on a guarantee of housing.
"This program takes away the mysteries regarding what will transfer and what courses students are needed for a particular major, making the process transparent to students. Expanding it statewide is really going to tighten the connections between USNH and CCSNH institutions and improve the entire transfer process for these students," said Gary Cilley, the assistant director of admissions at UNH who helped coordinate the program between UNH and Great Bay Community College in Stratham.
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