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Students seeking to transfer credits from any of Wisconsin’s 16 technical colleges to Alverno College will have a much easier time in the future thanks to a historic, comprehensive agreement signed Wednesday. Alverno is one of the private, nonprofit colleges and universities participating in the WAICU-WTCS Course Credit Transfer Agreement.

“This new agreement means students can look forward to an educational experience that is more efficient and simpler to navigate, while shortening the time to graduation and reducing their college costs,” said Dr. Joseph Foy, vice president for Academic Affairs at Alverno College.

“Streamlining the process to transfer credits from a technical college to a four-year private college opens doors for more students to earn bachelor’s degrees in Wisconsin,” said Dr. Rolf Wegenke, president of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU). “Our private colleges have longstanding relationships with the technical colleges, and this new agreement will make a difference as the state strives to increase the level of educational attainment and improve our position in the competitive knowledge economy.”

More than a dozen popular introductory courses are included in the agreement, such as chemistry, psychology and speech. Under the agreement, specified technical college credits will count toward requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Alverno, provided the student earned a grade of C or better within the last 10 years. Technical college students must also meet the admissions requirements of Alverno.

“Wisconsin’s private colleges and universities have long been leaders in recognizing the rigor of a technical college education and the value of creating transfer opportunities for our students,” noted Dr. Morna K. Foy, president of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS). “This agreement sets a strong foundation for the future by allowing all of our institutions – in both sectors – to make lifelong learning opportunities even clearer for students.”

The negotiated "course equivalencies" provide great value to transfer students by reducing or eliminating the need to spend extra time and money retaking courses. The ability to smoothly transfer credits provides more flexibility for students, especially those who want to start their college career close to home, as well as nontraditional students who are already in the workforce and are looking to further their careers with bachelor’s degrees.

About About Alverno College

Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Undergraduate programs for women are offered in more than 60 areas of study, and graduate programs in education, nursing, community psychology, school psychology, music therapy, music and liturgy, and business are open to women and men.

A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report. For the past two years, The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education named Alverno the country’s most inspiring college.

Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college.

About WAICU: The Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) is the official organization of the 23 independent (or private) institutions of higher learning in Wisconsin. Membership is limited to accredited, nonprofit institutions, headquartered in Wisconsin. WAICU members collectively enroll 56,000 students and graduate almost 14,000 each year. WAICU members offer over 420 academic programs and produce 23 percent of all the bachelor’s degrees and 35 percent of all the advanced degrees awarded in the state. WAICU’s mission is: “Working together for educational opportunity.”

Learn More: WAICU.org or WisconsinsPrivateColleges.org/ccta

About WTCS: The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) consists of 16 colleges that enroll more than 300,000 students each year in over 500 programs. The colleges award associate degrees and short-term credentials – boasting 94 percent graduate placement in Wisconsin – as well as dual credit to high school students and instruction for registered apprenticeships. Because the System is a major talent pipeline and premier provider of customized instruction and technical assistance for Wisconsin employers, 98 percent say a technical college is important to the success of their business.

Learn More: WTCSystem.edu