ISSUED: 22 February 2018
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University has signed a 2+2 transfer agreement with Montgomery College that will allow students in three programs at the community college to seamlessly transfer to Shepherd.
Montgomery students who earn an A.S., environmental science and policy track, will be able to transfer to Shepherd’s B.S. in environmental studies; those earning an A.A.S. in broadcast media production, television track, can transfer to Shepherd’s B.S. in communication and new media; and students with an A.A. in arts and sciences, international studies track, can enter Shepherd’s B.A. in global studies.
Shepherd’s Dr. Jason McKahan, chair of the Department of Mass Communications, Dr. Jeffrey Groff, chair of the Institute of Environmental and Physical Sciences, and Dr. Joseph Robbins, chair of the Department of Political Science and Global Studies, worked closely with their counterparts at Montgomery College to map a path students can take to further their education.
“I really appreciate the hard work of these three chairs along with their counterparts at Montgomery College in pulling these transfer agreements together,” said Dr. Virginia Hicks, assistant provost for academic and community outreach.
“The Montgomery College and Shepherd University collaboration provides an excellent opportunity for Montgomery’s Associate of Arts graduates in communication to earn a premier liberal arts bachelor’s degree within four years,” McKahan said. “The excellent training students receive in media production at Montgomery will bring talented students to Shepherd’s communications department.”
“The 2+2 agreement will provide options for Montgomery College students to more seamlessly complete their bachelor’s degrees while extending the reach of Shepherd’s programs to new student populations,” Groff said.
“Shepherd’s Department of Political Science and Global Studies is excited and proud of the agreement with Montgomery College,” Robbins said. “This partnership will enable the talented Montgomery College graduates to have the chance to continue their education at Shepherd and to benefit, in particular, from strong programs such as global studies and political science.”
Hicks pointed out the agreements will help students who transfer to Shepherd earn a bachelor’s degree with fewer complications in a reasonable amount of time.
“The best thing is, students from the Montgomery College will be able to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four years if they follow the program,” Hicks said “Many times when community college students transfer to a university, they find they have to go an extra semester or even a year. This will prevent that from happening.”
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