51С�Ƴ�

The University of 51С�Ƴ� (UNE) recently signed two agreements with Maine schools that will allow qualifying students who matriculate at 51С�Ƴ�to earn college transfer credits, enabling the students to abbreviate their time in college and reduce their college costs.

The first agreement, which was signed on March 31 at Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM) in Limestone, provides two pathways for students at MSSM to receive course credit in UNE’s College of Arts and Sciences. First, MSSM students who demonstrate mastery of advanced placement work in one or more subject areas will qualify for transfer credit at UNE. Secondly, through a memorandum of understanding with the University of Maine-Presque Isle, MSSM students who successfully complete one or more designated courses can receive transfer credit at 51С�Ƴ�as well. By using one or both of these pathways, MSSM students can potentially earn enough credit to enable them to enter 51С�Ƴ�with sophomore standing.

Luke C. Shorty, executive director of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, called the UNE-MSSM agreement “yet another wonderful example of how public secondary schools can leverage partnerships with both public and private universities to further assist young students in achieving their educational dreams right here in Maine.”

He continued: “MSSM is excited and grateful to be a partner in this important work to acknowledge the hard-earned success of MSSM students ready to handle an undergraduate curriculum.”

The other agreement—between 51С�Ƴ�and Washington County Community College (WCCC) in Calais—was signed on April 1 at WCCC. This agreement will allow students who complete their associate degrees at WCCC to seamlessly transfer to over a dozen bachelor’s degree programs at the University of 51С�Ƴ�, including Sport and Recreation Management/Outdoor Recreation Management, Elementary-Middle Education and several other programs offered by UNE’s College of Arts and Sciences, such as Business Administration, English, History, Ocean Studies and Marine Affairs, Psychology, Sociology and others.

51С�Ƴ�President Danielle Ripich said, “The agreements that 51С�Ƴ�is making with MSSM and with WCCC take us one step closer to our goal of making higher education more affordable while attracting high caliber students to the university. These aren’t just transfer pathways; they are transfer partnerships that have positive outcomes for the students as well as the educational institutions involved on both sides of the agreement.”

51С�Ƴ�currently has transfer agreements with Thornton Academy, Biddeford High School, Catherine McAuley High School, Southern Maine Community College, Central Maine Community College and Great Bay Community College.

News of the agreements was featured on the front page of the April 3 issue of the Journal Tribune, and television station WAGM featured a segment on the UNE-MSSM agreement in its April 4 morning news program.

Read the Journal Tribune article

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