BRCC signs guaranteed admission agreement with Lenoir-Rhyne

Press release from Blue Ridge Community College:

Blue Ridge Community College students will now have a much easier time transferring to Lenoir-Rhyne University after the two institutions signed an articulation agreement on Jan. 27 ultimately guaranteeing admission to the four-year college for students who meet eligibility requirements.

Lenoir-Rhyne President Dr. Frederick K. Whitt and Blue Ridge President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood signed a memorandum of understanding on the Blue Ridge Henderson County Campus.

“Blue Ridge Community College strives to develop a strong, effective workforce in our community, and it’s through agreements like at Lenoir-Rhyne University that we are able to offer our students options for continuing their education after Blue Ridge,” stated Blue Ridge President Dr. Laura Leatherwood.

The articulation agreement is unique in that it is a guaranteed admission agreement, meaning any Blue Ridge student who meets the eligibility requirements will be guaranteed admission into Lenoir-Rhyne.

“Lenoir-Rhyne University is excited about this new partnership with Blue Ridge Community College,” said Lenoir-Rhyne President Dr. Fred Whitt. “Our university is committed to partnerships with our community colleges to ensure a seamless and affordable transition to a four-year degree. I was a community college student, so I know well the variety of pathways students may take in reaching their goals. We have an excellent reputation as a collaborative university and have been noted as a Top 5 North Carolina University for financial aid. We look forward to this as just the beginning of new partnerships and collaborations with Blue Ridge Community College.”

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a private, four-year liberal arts institution located in Hickory, North Carolina, with a campus in Asheville, North Carolina.

Blue Ridge Community College is a comprehensive community college within the legislatively created North Carolina Community College System and serves both Henderson and Transylvania Counties. Blue Ridge Community College empowers individuals with knowledge and skills to enrich our communities and build a competitive workforce.

Lenoir-Rhyne and Blue Ridge will create and administer a program on each Party’s campus called the Promise Program: A Direct-Entry Admission Program (The “Program”). The Program name may be changed upon the mutual written consent of both Parties.

The Program will allow currently enrolled Blue Ridge students a direct-entry pathway to Lenoir-Rhyne available upon graduation from Blue Ridge Community College. Students who wish to participate in the Program must satisfy the following conditions:

-Be a currently enrolled student at Blue Ridge in a degree-seeking capacity;
-Submit Lenoir-Rhyne application for admission and discipline forms by Lenoir-Rhyne deadline;
-Submit application fee or waiver and fulfill all commitment action steps;
-Be in good standing at Blue Ridge and other institutions attended;
-Demonstrate good citizenship and conduct;
-Earn and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 at Blue Ridge and a minimum GPA of 2.20 in their most recent term; and
-Earn an associate degree from Blue Ridge in a college transfer program or in an applied program for which an articulation agreement exists.
-Enroll at Lenoir-Rhyne within one academic year (within the next two regular terms (fall/spring semesters) of completion of the associate degree).

While enrolled at Blue Ridge Community College, students will identify their interest in the Program by completing a brief, online form provided by the Lenoir-Rhyne Transfer Counselor. There is no Program participation fee. Students who discontinue their participation will be expected to transition to Lenoir-Rhyne through regular admission channels. Students who enroll at another college or university after their Blue Ridge enrollment also will be expected to transition to Lenoir-Rhyne through regular admission channels.

The Program affords Blue Ridge students access to information about academic programs, faculty, and staff at the Lenoir-Rhyne campus who will facilitate their transition Lenoir-Rhyne. This Program prioritizes the ability to receive admission, financial aid, registration and orientation communications early in the transition process, which sets Blue Ridge students up for maximum success at both institutions.

The Program requires completion of the associate degree from Blue Ridge Community College for guaranteed admission. In cases where Program participants matriculate prior to completing the associate degree, a Reverse Transfer Process provides the opportunity for students to complete their associate degree after transferring to Lenoir-Rhyne.

Additional benefits that serve both campuses may be added to the Program structure by mutual written consent of both Parties. Examples may include, but are not limited to, consortium agreements for cross-campus enrollment in individual courses and invitations to selective events or programs.

Responsibilities of both Parties

-Disseminating information about the Program to Henderson County, Transylvania County, Lenoir-Rhyne University communities and statewide;
-Raising awareness of the Program with relevant members of the Blue Ridge Community College and Lenoir-Rhyne campus communities;
-The University Transfer Advising Coordinator at Blue Ridge Community College will work in concert with the identified Primary Point of Contact at Lenoir-Rhyne in the development and maintenance of the program. The Blue Ridge Community College Transfer Advising Coordinator, will also serve as the point person for Lenoir-Rhyne representatives while they are on campus;
-Developing and providing an online registration form for Blue Ridge students to express interest in the Program;
Providing faculty and staff to serve on the Program Committee;
-Providing real-time resource and information to Blue Ridge students, on the Blue Ridge campus, for students who express interest in the Program;
-Communicating with students who register to participate in the Program; and
-Providing guest-speaker access to Blue Ridge students for services and opportunities that will be available after transitioning to the Lenoir-Rhyne campus. Some examples of guests that could be made available to Blue Ridge students include, but are not limited to, academic program chairs and faculty, academic advisors, admissions and financial aid counselors, student life staff, and student success representatives. This provision does not imply that instructional time will be provided for guest-speaker access.

Blue Ridge Community College will be responsible for:

-Aiding Blue Ridge students pursuing the benefits of the Program to fulfill the requirements for admission to Lenoir-Rhyne;
-Educating participants as to program-level admission opportunities and requirements;
-Complying with all applicable federal and state laws and Blue Ridge policies, including but not limited to those related to financial aid; and
-Working collaboratively with Lenoir-Rhyne staff assigned to serve on the Program Committee.

Lenoir-Rhyne University will be responsible for:

-Advising and assisting Blue Ridge students pursuing the benefits of the Program in fulfilling the requirements for admission to Lenoir-Rhyne;
-Educating participants as to program-level admission opportunities and requirements;
-Complying with all applicable federal and state laws, Lenoir-Rhyne policies, including but not limited to those related to financial aid;
-Disseminating information about the Program to members of the Lenoir-Rhyne campus community;
-Providing representatives assigned to administer the Program;
-Disseminating information about the Program to candidates for admission who are not offered admission directly to -Lenoir-Rhyne about the possibility to participate in the Program as a student at Blue Ridge; and
-Guaranteeing admission for applicants from Blue Ridge Community College who suffices all requirements in the above agreement.