NORFOLK – Earlier this month members of Northeast Community College and Wayne State College met to strengthen the region’s industrial technology workforce.
According to a release from NECC, the presidents of the two colleges signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Tuesday, August 3 that creates the Associate of Applied Science (AAS)/Bachelor of Science (BS) Technology program.
This will allow graduates who complete their associate degrees at Northeast Community College to transfer all of their completed academic credits to Wayne State College to study industrial technology and earn a bachelor degree.
Both Presidents Dr. Leah Barrett at Northeast Community College and Dr. Marysz Rames at Wayne State College are excited about this new degree partnership. The signing took place on August 3 during a news conference in Northeast’s Union 73 on the Norfolk campus.
Northeast Community College is looking for opportunities to give their students options beyond the AAS degree. Combining AAS and bachelor degrees creates a pathway for NECC students to continue their education which will lead to more opportunities that may include higher paying supervisory or management positions.
Dr. Rames stated Wayne State’s work with Northeast on this program demonstrates the effectiveness of two powerhouse regional schools coming together to directly benefit students and support the Nebraska economy. This unique agreement will allow WSC to accept up to 80 credit hours rather than the usual 60, which lets the college meet students where they are in their community college experience. The partnership also reflects a shared philosophy, passion and commitment to helping students succeed.
Students enrolled in a number of concentrations qualify for the new program including agriculture, business services, computer, construction, drafting, industrial management, industrial trades, management services, manufacturing and safety-related occupations. Transfer students from Northeast will have the opportunity to apply for transfer student scholarships through Wayne State.
Graduates who earn bachelor degrees in technical fields have the prospect of earning higher salaries – over $600,000 more than individuals with a two-year degree over the course of a 40-year working career, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Such degrees can also lead to increased job opportunities as an increasing number of careers are requiring or preferring applicants with a bachelor’s degree; in addition to faster advancement opportunities in management and supervisory roles.
Northeast Community College and Wayne State College have had a long-standing working and transfer relationship to serve students since 1986. Over the years, various institutional and programmatic agreements have been signed to create a seamless transfer of pathways for students between the two colleges. In addition, both institutions offer classes in the College Center in South Sioux City.
To learn more about the Northeast-Wayne State AAS/BS Technology program, visit northeast.edu or wsc.edu.
