By Dave O'Brien
Record-Courier staff writer
The presidents of Kent State University, Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State University have signed on to a Dual Admissions Partnership Program that will allow University System of Ohio students to select both a community college and a traditional four-year university when they enroll in community college.
In a collaborative effort that is in keeping with the strategic higher education plans of Gov. Ted Strickland and Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut, students will be given the chance to enroll at Tri-C and then be pre-approved to continue their education at either KSU or CSU.
The goal for the student is to first obtain their associate's degree at Tri-C while preparing for transfer to KSU or CSU to complete a bachelor's degree. Such students are known in higher education as "2+2" students.
"Dual admission is an excellent choice for students who want an affordable, high-quality college education, especially if they know from the outset that they intend to use the community college as a springboard to a bachelor's or other advanced degree," Fingerhut said.
Credits will transfer more easily from community colleges to their four-year public counterparts under the plan, with the hope of creating a more highly-trained and highly-educated workforce, according to Fingerhut. The effort also promises easier access to libraries, campus events, orientation and advising.
Pre-approved enrollment in KSU or CSU will save students time and paperwork, according to KSU. Several hundred Tri-C students already are eligible for the program, according to the partner institutions.
"Our new connection to Cuyahoga Community College gives students a direct link to Kent State from the day they enroll and we believe it will make earning a bachelor's degree a reality for more Ohioans," KSU President Lester Lefton said.
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