WINTERVILLE — May 5, 2015 — Pitt Community College administrators signed a pair of articulations with Barton College this week to establish clear pathways for University Transfer and Human Services Technology (Gerontology) graduates to continue their studies at the private, four-year institution in nearby Wilson.
PCC President G. Dennis Massey and Barton College President Norval Kneten approved the agreements on April 20, during a special ceremony at Pitt attended by administrators and faculty who played key roles in creating the pacts.
“Barton College is thrilled to be a formal partner with Pitt Community College in the education of students in our region,” said Barton Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Gary Daynes. “Barton and Pitt share a commitment to excellent instruction and meaningful student learning, and we share a commitment to serving the communities of Eastern North Carolina.
“The articulation agreements between our schools help ensure that more students will earn their associate and bachelor’s degrees as they build productive lives at work, at home, and in their communities.”
Essentially, the university transfer articulation states that students who complete an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at Pitt can pursue bachelor’s degrees at Barton. Per the agreement, the PCC transfers will have junior-level standing at Barton, provided they have at least a 2.0 GPA and have satisfied all other conditions for admission.
Pat Baldwin, chair of the PCC University Transfer and Foreign Language Department, welcomed the new articulation with Barton College.
“Because North Carolina’s 2014 Comprehensive Articulation Agreement is between the state’s 58 community colleges and UNC public schools, signing agreements with our private college partners, like Barton, is essential for our students to see that private colleges are a viable option for them to consider,” she said.
The articulation regarding transfer of PCC gerontology students allows them to pursue four-year degrees at Barton once they have received their associate degrees from Pitt. It parallels additional bilateral agreements established between Barton College and other North Carolina community colleges.
“… Barton is accepting student coursework as a collective degree of 71 credit hours rather than considering each course singularly, as they would if no articulation agreement were in place,” said Kim Barber, coordinator of PCC’s gerontology program.
PCC Dean of Public Services and Fine Arts Dan Mayo said the college’s Human Services Department has enjoyed a long-running partnership with Barton.
“We’ve worked side-by-side with Barton College for many years now to create educational opportunities for our students, and the gerontology articulation signed this week is a direct result of that relationship,” he said. “Having this agreement in place will benefit both institutions by giving gerontology students a seamless pathway from associate degree to bachelor’s.”
04/23/2015