UW-Green Bay, NTC partnership brings students ‘One Degree Closer’ to bachelor’s
A newly reinvigorated partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Adult Degree Program and Wausau-based Northcentral Technical College is bringing NTC grads “One Degree Closer” to earning their bachelor’s degree, thanks to a guaranteed credit transfer agreement between the two institutions.
The innovative “One Degree Closer” initiative allows students who have earned an associate degree at NTC to transfer at least 60 credits to UW-Green Bay in pursuit of a Bachelor of Applied Studies degree. It doesn’t matter what NTC associate degree a student earned, or when — the credits are guaranteed to count, said Eric Craver, director of External Relations for Outreach and Adult Access at UW-Green Bay. Many students will have more than the minimum 60 credits that transfer — bringing them even closer to earning their bachelor’s degree, no matter what their timeframe or motivation for doing so.
“If you’re looking at a career change, if you’re looking at taking those credits and finishing your bachelor’s degree, there’s never been a better time to do this,” Craver said. “You can do it completely online; you can do it on your own time — you don’t have to come to Green Bay at all. Even your academic adviser is on site in Wausau, allowing for flexible, convenient learning that helps you achieve that next educational goal.”
Students who choose the “One Degree Closer” program will apply credits toward a Bachelor of Applied Studies degree, selecting one of six areas of emphasis within its broad-based Interdisciplinary Studies major. In addition to NTC’s main campus in Wausau, UW-Green Bay is working closely with the college’s regional campuses in Antigo, Phillips, Medford, Spencer and Wittenberg. It’s a natural partnership with numerous benefits for students, said Suzi Mathias, director of Transfer and Placement for NTC.
“Northcentral Technical College is proud to partner with UW-Green Bay to provide opportunities for our students and alumni,” Mathias said. “Those continuing on to get a bachelor’s degree appreciate receiving in-person assistance from a UW-Green Bay adviser on our campus, while still having the flexibility to complete classes online.”
The “One Degree Closer” partnership launched a year ago, and officials from both schools say they’ve embraced reinvigorating the program to emphasize its potential for degree-holders in Northcentral Wisconsin. The program not only benefits current and prospective students, but also the region’s businesses and economy as a whole, Craver said.
“ ‘One Degree Closer’ is focusing attention on economic development and job growth, essentially taking the worker pool in that market and providing opportunities for increased education and credentials,” Craver said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Wausau-area businesses that are looking to grow their talent from within — promoting from within and cutting down on turnover and expenses for job searches and training.”
For more information on the “One Degree Closer” initiative, visit www.uwgb.edu/adultdegrees, call 800-621-2313 or 715-803-1410, or email adultdegrees@uwgb.edu. More information about Northcentral Technical College is available online at www.ntc.edu/transfer.
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