Transferring a seamless process at Cecil College
Published on March 23, 2018
NORTH EAST (MD) - Throughout the past five decades, Cecil College has offered a multitude of services to ensure student success. Among these services is fostering seamless transfer to four-year institutions in pursuit of a bachelor's degree. Cecil College has more than 150 articulation agreements and state transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities not only in the State of Maryland but across the country. Articulation agreements are a formal partnership between two or more colleges and universities, documenting the transfer policies for a specific academic program or degree. These partnerships ensure students do not waste time, money or credits by having to repeat a course at the four-year institution. “We want them to be able to transfer every credit they take here at Cecil College into their four-year school. By having these articulation agreements, the arrangements are all worked out for them,” said Dr. Christy Dryer, Vice President for Academic Programs. If the faculty and administration didn't work diligently to develop and maintain these articulation agreements, students would have to contact each academic department at their college of choice to ensure their class credits would be accepted. These credits have to be vetted, which is very time to consuming for the student and, in the end, they may still have their credits rejected. Articulation agreements dispel these uncertainties by ensuring the curriculum at Cecil College aligns with the four-year institutions. “Articulation agreements are critical for students. They can be focused on their coursework knowing the pathway they need to follow. It helps our students to be very selective of the courses they take and cost conscience so they don't use up their financial aid taking a course that won't transfer,” said Dr. Dryer. Cecil College has partnerships for most of the associate degree programs from nursing to engineering, marketing, and fine arts. Four-year institutions look favorably upon these agreements due to the proven track record that transfer students traditionally excel and are better prepared for the rigorous coursework at their four-year schools. This also results in Cecil College graduates being heavily recruited in many of the academic programs. “It is critical for the Cecil faculty to remain diligent in maintaining our articulation agreements. Not only are we, as a community college, wanting to provide an opportunity for a job or an associate degree, but the whole idea is for us to provide opportunities for learning, credential stacking, and progression. If we do not have strong articulation agreements, we are not meeting that part of our mission,” emphasized Dr. Dryer. Dr. Dryer went on to say that Cecil students who have taken advantage of the articulation agreements were surprised at how well prepared they were when taking classes at the four-year institutions. They go expecting it to be hard but then realize they are well prepared and suited to complete that bachelor's degree. Several four-year colleges and universities have partnered with Cecil College to offer their bachelor's programs on the North East Campus or online. Frostburg State, Salisbury University, and University of Maryland University Center allow Cecil graduates to continue their education while living at home, enabling them to avoid the financial hardship of moving out of the area. “We are constantly seeking out new articulation agreements and opportunities to meet the needs of students. We rely on the goodwill and engagement of our four-year partners, and we know our students are ready to go on to be successful,” said Dr. Dryer.