Participants in the Shepherd-HCC 2+2 agreement signing ceremony are (seated, l. to r.) Laurie Montgomery, director, HCC mathematics and science division; Dr. Carol Rothstein, HCC acting chief academic officer; Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix, Shepherd president; and Dr. Scott Beard, Shepherd acting provost; second row, Dr. Bob Warburton, acting dean, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Shepherd; Aline Novak, HCC recruiter and curriculum development assistant; Dr. Rebecca Beecroft, HCC associate professor life sciences/biotechnology and environmental studies; Barbara Kandalis, assistant for Academic Community Outreach; Reza Mirdamadi, chair, Shepherd Department of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Engineering; Dr. Rosemary Nickerson, HCC professor of biology; and Dr. Virginia Hicks, assistant provost for Academic Community Outreach; back row, Cullen Byers, Shepherd graduate assistant; C. Edward Sigler, HCC assistant professor of engineering; Dr. Jeff Groff, chair, Shepherd Institute of Environmental and Physical Sciences; and Dr. David Wing, chair, Shepherd Department of Biology.
Hagerstown Community College
Shepherd University and Hagerstown Community College (HCC) have signed eight 2+2 transfer articulation agreements that will allow students who earn certain two-year degrees at HCC to easily transfer to Shepherd. Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix, Shepherd president, and Dr. Carol Rothstein, HCC acting chief academic officer, signed the agreements, the first between the two schools, during a ceremony at Shepherd on May 14.
“About a year and a half ago, I had the privilege of visiting HCC’s magnificent campus,” Hendrix said. “Everything I saw was so innovative, creative, and thoughtfully planned. We look forward to partnering with HCC in many different ways—because we are stronger together.”
“I’m excited as an administrator for this partnership to continue and to look for other areas where we can continue to develop transfer agreements,” said Rothstein, whose son is transferring from HCC to Shepherd. “For some parents, it can be a little confusing to know how classes transfer. It is wonderful for students to have a clearly identified pathway.”
The 2+2 transfer agreements between Shepherd and HCC include the following programs:
- A.S. in engineering science with a chemical and environmental engineering pathway to a B.S. engineering science with an environmental engineering concentration
- A.S. in engineering science with an electrical and computer engineering pathway to a B.S. in computer engineering
- A.S. in environmental studies to a B.S. in environmental studies
- A.S. in arts and sciences, mathematics concentration, to a B.S. in mathematics with a traditional concentration
- A.S. in arts and sciences, mathematics concentration, to a B.S. in mathematics with an industrial concentration
- A.S. in arts and sciences, biology concentration, to a B.S. in biology
- A.S. in arts and sciences, biology concentration, to a B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry
- A.S. in arts and sciences, biology concentration, to a B.S. in biology with an ecological science concentration
“We are excited about these eight programs that will have very specific pathways for HCC students to be successful here at Shepherd,” said Dr. Scott Beard, acting provost. “Many of our transfer students come from HCC, and it’s important to have those pathways in place for a smooth transition from community college to Shepherd University.”
“I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the faculty and staff from both campuses who collaborated together to develop these eight 2+2 transfer agreements,” said Dr. Virginia Hicks, assistant provost for Academic Community Outreach.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
Shepherd University and Blue Ridge Community and Technical College have signed a 2+2 transfer agreement for social work. The agreement will help students with a seamless transition from Blue Ridge to Shepherd.
Faculty and staff from both institutions worked together to develop the curriculum, which maps out the four-year pathway that will guarantee enrollment in Shepherd to community college students who receive associate degrees from Blue Ridge. Having the four-year pathway and receiving an associate degree keep the community college students on a path to graduate from Shepherd within four years without having to take additional courses or attending an extra semester once they transfer.
This is the 18th transfer agreement Shepherd and Blue Ridge have signed.