05-16-06

Media Release

OSU Marks First Enrollment Pact Among Three Institutions

CORVALLIS, Ore – Oregon State University will sign the university’s first three-way degree partnership agreement with Linn-Benton and Central Oregon Community Colleges during OSU's annual Degree Partnership Summit on May 18-19.

The university will also formalize a concurrent enrollment agreement with Clatsop Community College during the summit. The Degree Partnership Summit attracts more than 100 educators nationwide to discuss concurrent enrollment; ranging from how to improve program articulation and data-sharing systems among partner institutions, to helping students with financial aid, advising and registration.

OSU's Degree Partnership Program has served as a model for a number of other universities across the nation, said Bob Bontrager, the university's assistant provost for enrollment management.

"The Degree Partnership Program allows students to concurrently enroll at two-year institutions and Oregon State University," Bontrager said. "It effectively eliminates many of the barriers to attending a four-year university such as OSU and improves overall access to post-secondary education."

OSU President Ed Ray will be joined by the presidents of Linn-Benton, Central Oregon and Clatsop Community Colleges during the signing ceremony about 12:30 p.m. on Thursday.

OSU's partnership program differs from many "co-admission" programs developed by other institutions, which offer students what amounts to a traditional transfer opportunity in a slightly repackaged form. Oregon State's program has one application, coordinated financial aid, and the flexibility to take courses at the partner institutions at the same time.

The university's last degree partnership was sealed with Lane Community College in February. The agreement with Lane marked OSU's 12th partnership with the state's 17 community colleges.

Originally called the "Dual Enrollment Program," the Degree Partnership Program allows classes to be taken on-site at OSU or through online courses offered by OSU Extended Campus.

The university anticipates partnering with the remaining Oregon community colleges by the end of the year, Bontrager said. "We have also initiated conversations with community colleges in California, Washington and Hawaii."