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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 9/26/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
April 6, 2007 Plan eases transfer of tech credits to bachelor's program UWGB applied studies degree nears approval By Kelly McBride
Beginning this fall, individuals with associate degrees from area technical colleges will be able to transfer those degrees to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay as a block of 60 credits.
So instead of starting from scratch — or being uncertain about which credits may transfer — those students will be able to have a solid foundation toward a bachelor's degree, officials say.
UWGB's Faculty Senate approved the Bachelor of Applied Studies degree last month. The UW System Board of Regents still must give it the go-ahead — likely in May — and it's expected to be ready to launch for fall semester.
The new degree is the latest in a series of cooperative efforts between area institutions of higher learning. But officials from those schools say this program takes it to another level.
"This is a new approach that hasn't really been tried here, in this area," said Jeff Rafn, president of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. "It's a new way of thinking, frankly. For a long time ... technical college and the university were worlds apart. (But now) there are ways that we can work together."
The Bachelor of Applied Studies degree is aimed at working adults who have obtained their associate degrees — perhaps several years ago — and now want to earn a liberal arts degree, said UWGB professor Bill Laatsch. Doing so is becoming more important, he added.
"The bachelor's degree is becoming today what the high school diploma was 50 years ago," Laatsch said.
The new degree specifically is designed for local technical college graduates — those from NWTC as well as Fox Valley, Moraine Park (Fond du Lac) and Lakeshore (Cleveland) technical colleges. However, it also will be available to individuals with technical college degrees from other states.
About 62,000 Northeastern Wisconsin residents have associate degrees, Laatsch said, so the program will have a large base from which to recruit. In addition to the UWGB program, UW-Oshkosh is set to have a similar degree transfer arrangement.
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