ISSUED: 17 April 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University and Blue Ridge Community and Technical College (BRCTC) have signed a 2+3 agreement that will give eligible Blue Ridge students who earn an Associate of Science in business administration early admission to Shepherd’s Master of Business Administration.
“Shepherd University is very excited about the opportunity to partner with Blue Ridge Community and Technical College to coordinate our academic efforts to provide a streamlined path for students to obtain an A.S. degree from BRCTC and transition to Shepherd for approximately three additional years to obtain an M.B.A.,” said Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix, Shepherd president. “This special fast track will allow students to begin their careers in business earlier and become successful in achieving their professional goals.”
“We are excited to share this with our students,” said Dr. Peter Checkovich, Blue Ridge CTC founding president. “Transfer agreements provide lifelong learning opportunities to our graduates. This agreement is particularly attractive to individuals seeking an accelerated pathway leading to a graduate degree. Collaboration among institutions ensures ease of transfer, saving students both time and money when pursuing academic goals.”
Through the collaborative arrangement, Blue Ridge CTC and Shepherd are partnering to market the associate degree together with the master’s degree as part of a continuous program of study. Faculty at each institution will coordinate transition efforts, and participate in departmental meetings, information sessions, and faculty/student collaborations. The business program coordinator at Blue Ridge CTC, or designee, will serve as a voting member on Shepherd’s Business Advisory Council.
“Students need to know specific information about a degree pathway with the biggest one being how much time will this take,” said Todd Cimino-Johnson, Blue Ridge CTC business coordinator. “This 2+3 gives students that pathway and lays out how exactly they will complete the program in five years. Also, students may not see themselves as earning a master’s degree when they enter Blue Ridge. This program gives them that clear vision. In today’s globally competitive environment, education is going to be the key to getting into or staying in the middle class.”
“It is straightforward as all the courses needed are identified and are officially tied together between the programs with articulation agreements,” said Dr. Ben Martz, dean, Shepherd’s College of Business. “This means students can plan their schedules with confidence and save time and money by not taking classes that may not count if they transferred schools or jumped around between programs.”
Martz said the integration of these three programs will mean students can concentrate on learning and not be derailed by transition paperwork and incompatible policies.
For more information, contact Martz at bmartz@shepherd.edu or Cimino-Johnson at tciminoj@blueridgectc.edu.
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