With strokes of a pen, Richmond Community College President Dale McInnis and The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) Chancellor Kyle Carter made it much easier for students to transition from the two-year degree conferring institution to the four-year degree conferring institution.
McInnis and Carter signed the dual enrollment/reverse transfer agreement between RCC and UNCP Thursday afternoon at a ceremony at the Robert L. and Elizabeth S. Cole Auditorium, on RCC’s main campus in Hamlet. The agreement allows students to take courses at both institutions simultaneously, effectively working on their associate and bachelor’s degree at the same time. Students who leave RCC before attaining a degree and go to UNCP can transfer credits back to the community college and be awarded their associate degree.
“I am extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish with this very unique agreement,” said RCC Vice President for Student Services Saundra Richardson, who, with UNCP Interim Executive Director of Enrollment Management Lela Clark, spearheaded the effort to create the agreement. “This agreement is exactly what needs to be done for students.”
For both McInnis and Carter, this agreement is another step in the collaboration between the two institutions.
“I am honored by our partnership with UNCP,” said McInnis, “and am happy that we have this opportunity to grow it. I cannot express just how appreciative I am of Saundra and Lela for making this happen. Their creativity and determination made the difference and prove how strong we are when we work towards a single goal. I also have to thank Dr. Carter and (UNCP Provost) Dr. Ken Kitts for being here and embracing this initiative and our partnership.”
“UNCP and RCC are great old friends,” said Carter. “Our relationship goes back to the days when we were Pembroke State and RCC was Richmond Technical Institute. This agreement saves time and resources and helps students move through their educational journey more quickly. Educating students in a more effective and efficient manner is what we all should be doing.”
Kitts, who will be managing the program at UNCP, echoed his chancellor’s sentiments.
“If there is a stronger partnership between a four-year university and a community college anywhere I would be surprised,” said Kitts. “This agreement demonstrates that we are serious about reducing administrative barriers and easing the transitions for students.
“This is a great day for our institutions, but an even better day for our students,” Kitts said.
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