Concordia University Irvine Announces "Degree With A Guarantee" Agreement Providing Seamless Pathway For California Community College Transfer Students
IRVINE, Calif (July 25, 2018)--Concordia University Irvine (CUI) today announced its commitment and support of a transfer pathway between the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The pathway is designed for community college students graduating with an Associate of Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or an Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) from a California community college, guaranteeing them a spot when transferring to a participating AICCU four-year independent, nonprofit college or university.
The pathway is the AICCU sector’s adoption of the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway between the California Community Colleges and the California State University (CSU) system. Much like the current CSU ADT pathway, Concordia University Irvine will commit to guaranteeing admission for ADT students who apply, as well as accepting a minimum of 60 units transferred, and assure that students start at Concordia with junior standing. AICCU has been working with Governor Brown’s administration and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to develop the new transfer pathway.
Concordia’s commitment today creates new opportunities for transfer students to access and attend a university that best fits their educational goals and values, and increases their ability to succeed,” said Concordia University Irvine Provost Peter Senkbeil, who has been part of the ADT team at the liberal arts university.
Concordia Irvine will accept ADTs in seven undergraduate areas of study: Biology, Business Administration, Communication Studies, Economics, Physics, Psychology, and Studio Art. University administrators are working to expand the list of majors. ADT is one of Concordia’s transfer pathways that the private university offers.
California’s independent, nonprofit colleges and universities enroll about 8,500 transfer students annually. The new transfer program, organizers believe, is good for students and the state. It provides a transparent pathway for students to complete their degrees at an independent private, nonprofit institution which might better fit their needs, complete their degree in four years if desired, and it allows the state to serve more students with the capacity available at AICCU institutions, at less cost to the state.
Currently, 36 AICCU member colleges and universities will adopt the ADT program. AICCU officials expect that number to increase in the coming years.
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, the state of California will by 2030 have a shortage of 1.1 million workers holding a bachelor’s degree needed to meet workforce demands. “The Associate Degree for Transfer program is vital to our economy,” said Senkbeil.
AICCU represents 82 colleges and universities with more than 340,000 students across the state. Member institutions include research institutions, specialized professional schools, liberal arts institutions, faith-based schools, as well as campuses that focus on the arts, and non-traditional study programs. For more information about the ADT pathway, visit aiccu.edu/page/transferstudents.
ABOUT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY IRVINE
Concordia University Irvine (CUI) is a non-profit Lutheran Christian liberal arts four-year university that prepares students for their vocations—their calling in life. Concordia offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in education, nursing, theology, business, and athletics administration. CUI’s undergraduate program is distinctive because of its nationally recognized core curriculum, Enduring Questions & Ideas, and its Lutheran heritage that provides a thoughtful and caring Christian community that lives out the theology of "Grace Alone. Faith Alone." Concordia is a U.S. News Top Tier Regional University and has been named by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the fastest growing private nonprofit master's institutions. The university is part of the Concordia University System, the second largest education ministry system in the United States just behind the Catholic Church. The NCAA DII private university enrolls over 4,000 students annually.
ABOUT AICCU
The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) is comprised of 82 independent, nonprofit colleges and universities, which make up the Independent California Colleges and Universities (ICCU) sector. The ICCU sector plays a pivotal role in the development of the state's model higher education offerings and in making California a symbol of innovation across the globe. Within California, ICCU institutions award 21 percent of all bachelor’s degrees and 54 percent of graduate degrees, making them the largest preparers of California's advanced workforce.