HCC Collaboration Opens Doors for Non-Traditional Students

By Susan Kim, STAFF WRITER

Alan Jefferson, vice president of Wachovia Small Business Capital in Baltimore, has a new title: first guinea pig. Jefferson will be the first student to work toward a bachelor's degree through a new collaboration announced in September by Howard Community College (HCC) and Albany, N.Y.-based Excelsior College.
The collaboration will enable local students to earn bachelor's degrees in business, technology, liberal arts, nursing and health sciences. Through the agreement, students can transfer up to 90 credits (or three years of a four-year degree) to Excelsior, where they can complete the remaining 30 credits required for a bachelor's through Excelsior's online courses and for-credit examinations.
Jefferson joked about his earliest forays into college. "I've never hidden the fact that, when I did my first turn at the University of Maryland College Park, I was on the dean's list three times - but it was the wrong list," he said, with a laugh. "After about five semesters, I got the letter that said you're taking up space that could be otherwise used by a student."
While starting his banking career, Jefferson racked up credits at other local colleges and HCC staff helped him to surmise that he has 59 transferable credits. And now the HCC/Excelsior partnership will enable him to earn a bachelor's degree.
This time, he'll make the most of his opportunity. "What a perfect opportunity for people in my situation," he said.

Reaching Out
The new deal means that HCC is the first community college in the country to enter into an online learning agreement with Excelsior.
The collaboration is especially beneficial for working adults and military personnel who require flexibility to advance their education, and who may already have earned credits from other colleges, noted HCC President Dr. Kate Hetherington.
"Why do this kind of articulation agreement? We began looking at options that would be attractive especially to non-traditional age students," said Hetherington. "We wanted to put together a program that would lead to a bachelor's degree. This will be especially beneficial to people in the military in light of BRAC [Base Realignment and Closure]. It will represent a significant opportunity for them."
In addition, the agreement means that HCC students will be eligible for a lower tuition rate at Excelsior, as well as reductions in other fees.

Online Flexibility
Excelsior College President John Ebersole called forming the relationship with HCC "a great honor. This is a rather innovative and unique program. We very much appreciate the fact that HCC is willing to partner with us," he said.
Excelsior College was founded in 1971 by the New York State Board of Regents as Regents College. In 1998, it became a private nonprofit institution and, in 2001, changed its name to Excelsior College. "Excelsior is Latin for 'ever upward,'" said Ebersole. "And that's also the motto for the State of New York."
He hopes the new partnership also sparks an upswing in higher education. "We believe that our economy is facing something of a crisis," he said. "The percentage of adults with a degree of any kind is declining. This has very serious implications for our economy and our society."
Since its instruction is primarily online, Excelsior, which has about 120,000 alumni and an enrollment of 30,000 students, is uniquely positioned to offer students a flexible way to earn a bachelor's degree. "Our commencement ceremony often is the first time a student might see the institution, faculty and other students," said Ebersole.

Seamless Path
Creating a seamless path between two institutions was easier than it sounds, said Ron Roberson, HCC's vice president of academic affairs. "We did not have to change our programs. The same course can have very different titles. It's a matter of reading through the details. It's relatively simple to do."
The path created by combining the two institutions is just what Jefferson needs in his life right now. "I am looking forward to the testing and the online work," he said, noting that he is already extremely busy balancing his banking career with his family. He has two children, ages 13 and 15. "You can imagine what life is like," he said.
He said he is proud to be the "first guinea pig" and he pledged to help HCC and Excelsior publicize the new partnership. With administrators and his family cheering him on, Jefferson said he's confident he'll earn his degree. "That's the nicest thing about going public with this," he said. "You can't hide from it."
And when all is said and done, what's his goal? "To beat my daughter to the stage for graduation," he said.