Campbell joins N.C. independent schools, community colleges in agreement to improve transfer process

Photo by Bill Parish
RALEIGH — Campbell University joined N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities and the N.C. Community College System today in signing a revised Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement that better defines transfer options for students between the two systems, saving North Carolinians money and potentially shortening the time to degree attainment.
“This signing, joined with our revised agreement with the UNC system in 2014, brings North Carolina’s higher education alignment to a new level,” said Dr. R. Scott Ralls, System President of the NC Community Colleges. “It means increased access and opportunity for our community college students and clearly defined pathways to success at both public and private higher education institutions in our state.”
Campbell Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mark Hammond said the University was pleased to take part in the agreement that will have an immediate beneficial impact on students and families. 
“Great academic pathways for community college students will better enable them to pursue the nearly 100 degree programs we offer,” Hammond said. Campbell welcomed 286 transfer students to campus this fall, a big part of the record enrollment of 1,398 new students.
The agreement will provide an earlier introduction of transfer students to the four-year college or university they want to attend, said A. Hope Williams, president of NCICU, and will make the transfer process more efficient and effective.
“North Carolina’s private colleges and universities have strong relationships with our state’s community colleges,” Williams said, “and we look forward to expanding our work together.”
The NCICU Board approved the revised agreement at its annual meeting in March, and the State Board of Community Colleges officially adopted the revised articulation agreement in May. The agreement moves community college students toward their four-year degree goals by clearly defining transfer pathways and how earned credit hours fit into the requirements of signatory institutions.
Approximately 2,000 community college students transfer to one of North Carolina’s 36 independent higher education institutions each year. The revised Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement, updated from the previous articulation agreement signed in 2007, is effective for new college transfer students in the fall of 2015 at the signatory colleges and universities.