Two-year college launches credit transfer agreement with four-year university

Two-year college launches credit transfer agreement with four-year university

Many community colleges are incorporating online learning into their academic programs in order to help nontraditional students - such as working adults and parents - obtain higher education.

For example, Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) in Missouri is giving students the option of transferring or completing a four-year degree online through the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), the News-Leader reports.

"My focus is our military students," said OTC President Hal Higdon, noting that service members can be dispatched on a moment's notice. "With us, they can finish their degrees," Higdon added.

UMUC offers on-site courses and services at more than 150 U.S. military bases around the world. Students can complete more than 25 bachelor's degree programs online, including business administration, computer science, criminal justice, cyber security and psychology.

"The most important objective is to ensure students can start their academic studies anywhere in the world and they can finish anywhere in the world," said Susan Aldridge, president of UMUC.

This is OTC's first transfer agreement for online degrees. UMUC has similar agreements with 50 community colleges around the country.

By Mark Danson