Crowder College and MSU sign new articulation agreement
Pictured above, from left to right: Glenn Coltharp, Crowder College president, and Frank Einhellig, Missouri State University provost, as they sign the new articulation agreement between their two schools.
February 5, 2020
Vinnie Roberts
On January 10, the heads of Crowder College in Neosho and Missouri State University (MSU) in Springfield, signed an articulation agreement for both schools to work together to provide a better education to their students.
The agreement contains several major shifts in the admissions process for Crowder students pursuing a transfer to MSU. The most major and well-defined point in the agreement has to do with both schools’ nursing programs.
“Students can always finish their associate of science in nursing and go into the field as a registered nurse, that’s not changing,” explained Keith Zoromski, Crowder College’s vice president of academic affairs. “What’s changing is that many medical employers are requiring their nurses to obtain a bachelors to maintain and receive employment.”
Crowder College currently only offers associate-level degree courses for its students. In response to this, Crowder’s agreement with MSU lays out a clear roadmap for students who wish to continue their nursing education.
“What this agreement does is create a stream-lined partnership where students can continue their education at MSU without having to retake courses to earn their bachelors,” continued Zoromski.
“Different nursing programs set their curriculums differently,” Zoromski explained. “Some universities might require different course work or requirements for their students at that level. This lowers that barrier without lowering expectations. It will allow them to transfer in immediately as a bachelor’s student.”
According to Zoromski, this agreement would cut out any need for remediation as well as any issues regarding student transfer.
“They take our associate degree plan and accept it as is in their degree catalogue,” said Zoromski. “They still have to go through the process of being accepted into the nursing program, but when they are accepted, their degree will be treated like they received it at MSU.”
With this agreement come several other, less well-defined aspects. The first of these is what the schools are calling a “Two Plus Two” transfer plan. According to Zoromski, this section of the agreement will cut down on issues with students who achieve associate-level degrees from Crowder aiming to transfer to MSU.
“It doesn’t necessarily fit to any one program,” said Zoromski. “What it does is open the door for us to articulate these Two Plus Two agreements in specific fields that recognize that the core requirements of a general education have been met and will not need to be repeated at MSU. There might be specific requirements outside of that they will still have to meet, but the nice thing is that they will be guaranteed admission to Missouri State through these programs.”
According to Zoromski, students will be transferred in as juniors with their general education requirements met. Special programs, such as the nursing and band programs, will still require students to go through a screening and acceptance process.
While the agreement will stand as a general rule going forward, it is not yet known which additional programs that the agreement could apply to. Zoromski could only comment that multiple liberal arts and science programs are currently being targeted as part of the expanded agreement.
The final major aspect of the agreement will also see a variety of new scholarship opportunities open up for Crowder students who plan to transfer.
For more information on the articulation agreement, graduation requirements or transfers regarding this agreement, contact Crowder College at (417) 847-1706 or the MSU admissions office at (517) 355-8332.
Vinnie Roberts
On January 10, the heads of Crowder College in Neosho and Missouri State University (MSU) in Springfield, signed an articulation agreement for both schools to work together to provide a better education to their students.
The agreement contains several major shifts in the admissions process for Crowder students pursuing a transfer to MSU. The most major and well-defined point in the agreement has to do with both schools’ nursing programs.
“Students can always finish their associate of science in nursing and go into the field as a registered nurse, that’s not changing,” explained Keith Zoromski, Crowder College’s vice president of academic affairs. “What’s changing is that many medical employers are requiring their nurses to obtain a bachelors to maintain and receive employment.”
Crowder College currently only offers associate-level degree courses for its students. In response to this, Crowder’s agreement with MSU lays out a clear roadmap for students who wish to continue their nursing education.
“What this agreement does is create a stream-lined partnership where students can continue their education at MSU without having to retake courses to earn their bachelors,” continued Zoromski.
“Different nursing programs set their curriculums differently,” Zoromski explained. “Some universities might require different course work or requirements for their students at that level. This lowers that barrier without lowering expectations. It will allow them to transfer in immediately as a bachelor’s student.”
According to Zoromski, this agreement would cut out any need for remediation as well as any issues regarding student transfer.
“They take our associate degree plan and accept it as is in their degree catalogue,” said Zoromski. “They still have to go through the process of being accepted into the nursing program, but when they are accepted, their degree will be treated like they received it at MSU.”
With this agreement come several other, less well-defined aspects. The first of these is what the schools are calling a “Two Plus Two” transfer plan. According to Zoromski, this section of the agreement will cut down on issues with students who achieve associate-level degrees from Crowder aiming to transfer to MSU.
“It doesn’t necessarily fit to any one program,” said Zoromski. “What it does is open the door for us to articulate these Two Plus Two agreements in specific fields that recognize that the core requirements of a general education have been met and will not need to be repeated at MSU. There might be specific requirements outside of that they will still have to meet, but the nice thing is that they will be guaranteed admission to Missouri State through these programs.”
According to Zoromski, students will be transferred in as juniors with their general education requirements met. Special programs, such as the nursing and band programs, will still require students to go through a screening and acceptance process.
While the agreement will stand as a general rule going forward, it is not yet known which additional programs that the agreement could apply to. Zoromski could only comment that multiple liberal arts and science programs are currently being targeted as part of the expanded agreement.
The final major aspect of the agreement will also see a variety of new scholarship opportunities open up for Crowder students who plan to transfer.
For more information on the articulation agreement, graduation requirements or transfers regarding this agreement, contact Crowder College at (417) 847-1706 or the MSU admissions office at (517) 355-8332.
