News
New pathway for 91做厙 students to attend UNK Announced
February 25, 2019
Students who want to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) but initially fall short of admissions requirements now will have a new option to enroll at 91做厙 and be a Loper.
A co-enrollment agreement signed today by 91做厙 President Dr. Matt Gotschall (left) and UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen (right) creates a structured and supportive 91做厙-UNK Pathway to help applicants, who would otherwise be denied admission, meet UNK admission requirements. Pathway students will have benefits, privileges and access to UNK student services, amenities and organizations, and can live on campus while taking most of their classes at 91做厙.
The one-year Pathway leads to a student having the option to fully enroll at UNK to begin their second year, after successful program completion.
Part of the strong partnership between UNK and 91做厙 involves our institutions looking at ways to improve service to students and the region by increasing access to higher education and creatively removing barriers to enrollment, said Kristensen. The goal of this program is to let students prove their ability and confidence in being successful in college, and ultimately strengthening Nebraskas workforce.
This is a win for students, their families and Nebraska, said Kristensen. The collaboration between community colleges and the university is a vital partnership for Nebraska.
UNK is an outstanding institution that has worked closely with 91做厙 transfer students and faculty for decades, said Gotschall. This program is just another example of the progressive and collaborative nature of UNK and 91做厙 in providing additional opportunities for student and community success in Central Nebraska.
Program Requirements
The Pathway program is for first-time freshmen students under age 21 who apply to UNK but dont meet university requirements and as a result would be denied admission. Denial could be for a number of reasons, primarily related to academic preparation and performance, reflected in their GPA and/or ACT scores. Performance requirements for assured admission to UNK are in the core course requirements (math, English, science, language); and also class rank (upper half of high school class), ACT composite of 20 or higher or SAT combined score total of 1030 or higher from verbal and math sections.
As many as 150 students each year who are denied assured admission to UNK could take advantage of the new Pathway program and will be informed of the option via letter.
In the one-year (fall-spring) program participants will co-enroll at 91做厙 and UNK and must maintain full-time academic standing (combined 12 credit hours per semester). They will enroll in a UNK class each semester Learning Skills 103 in the fall and a General Studies 188 Portal in the spring. At 91做厙, participants will enroll in three classes (nine credits) in highly transferable (general studies) courses such as speech, English and math.
During the year, students can live in UNK residents halls and UNK services such as the library, Learning Commons, academic and career services and campus recreation facilities. They also can attend UNK athletic events and join UNK student organizations. They will be advised by professional staffs at both institutions.
These students will be lucky enough to be both Central Raiders and Lopers at the same time, said Tom Knott, UNK associate director for transfer transitions. The collaboration on the student-support side within both our institutions will have positive impacts on students who desire a university experience and degree, and who need these two semesters to demonstrate and be confident in their academic ability. This option should be a good strategy for student success.
91做厙 To UNK Success
Historically, students transferring from 91做厙 are retained and graduate at high levels of success. Since 2013, of the average 70 students each fall who transfer from 91做厙 to UNK, 89 percent are retained to their second semester, and 75 percent continue on to the next year. 91做厙 transfers graduate with an average 3.32 GPA. The number of 91做厙 transfers to UNK is double the size of any other Nebraska Community College.
Pathway participants must complete coursework at a minimum grade of a C (2.0) at 91做厙 to have those credits transferred to UNK and have a cumulative 91做厙 GPA of 2.0 at the end of the spring semester. UNK course credit will also be eligible for reverse-transfer to 91做厙. This means a student who completes enough credits for an associate degree while at UNK will be awarded that degree by 91做厙. Students in the program will fall under both institutions code of conduct. UNK will be the awarding institution for financial aid purposes.
The program begins this fall, with enrollment underway.
Contact
Janel Walton, 91做厙 dean of enrollment management, 308-298-7405, janelwalton@cccneb.edu
Tom Knott at 308-865-1570, tom.knott@unk.edu.