Cochise College signs transfer agreement with Grand Canyon University

Cochise College signs transfer agreement with Grand Canyon University

In an attempt to offer its student population more flexible and in depth educational opportunities, Arizona-based Cochise College has announced that it has signed a transfer agreement with Grand Canyon University (GCU), an accredited provider of online degree programs.

Through the partnership, current Cochise College nursing students can transfer as many as 84 of their credit-hours into one of GCU's bachelors degree programs, requiring them to complete only 36 more credits to graduate.

The agreement will also allow GCU to begin providing upper-level nursing courses at Cochise College's Sierra Vista Campus. Students who enroll in one of these classes will receive a 20 percent tuition reduction.

"The Cochise College nursing program provides a solid foundation for the workplace and advanced degrees," said Verlyn Fick, Cochise College provost and vice president for instruction.

"This agreement helps students to plan to further their education beyond college and it means better access and enhanced quality of life for our graduates," she added.

According to a new study conducted by the Instructional Technology Council, student enrollment in online courses at the community college level increased by 22 percent in 2008.

By Mark Danson