Local college students will now have a more streamlined process of earning their bachelor’s degrees, thanks to a new partnership between Columbia-Greene Community College and SUNY Delhi.
Columbia-Greene announced the new program, which will go into effect in the fall 2020 semester, on Thursday. Students who earn their associate degree or complete certificate programs in nursing, business, criminal justice, environmental sustainability and computer science and earn a 2.0 grade-point-average or higher, or 2.8 for nursing students, will be accepted directly into the corresponding bachelor’s programs at SUNY Delhi, according to the community college.
“It’s a wonderful union of two institutions,” College President Carlee Drummer said. “We are so thrilled at this new partnership. It will enable students to pursue bachelor’s degrees in the designated program areas without leaving the Columbia-Greene campus.”
“We started looking at the partnership for our nursing program,” Drummer said. State law now requires nurses to have a bachelor’s degree, she added.
Nursing students at Columbia-Greene who meet the eligibility requirements will be able to earn their bachelor’s degree on campus and nursing alumni now have the opportunity to come back for their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees at Columbia-Greene, Drummer said.
College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs George Timmons called the move a game-changer for Columbia and Greene counties, especially for students hoping to pursue four-year degrees closer to home.
“As a community college, Co-Greene serves a diverse population of students with a wide variety of needs,” he said. “From transportation challenges to family obligations, to job responsibilities and beyond, the roadblocks to pursuing a degree are many. This partnership with SUNY Delhi will open doors for a greater number of students, including those leading into some of the most in-demand and well-paying jobs in the region.”
Several industries experienced job growth throughout the state from December 2018 to December 2019, according to the state Department of Labor.