May 22, 2019

REVERSE TRANSFER AGREEMENT MAKES DEGREE COMPLETION EASIER

WHEELING, WV, May 21, 2019 — West Virginia Northern Community College (WVNCC) and West Liberty University (WLU) signed a reverse transfer agreement today, making degree completion easier for students who start at WVNCC and transfer to WLU. A reverse transfer agreement allows students who started at WVNCC, but transferred to WLU before graduating with an associate degree, the opportunity to apply credits earned at WLU towards an associate degree at WVNCC.

The reverse transfer agreement will start as a pilot program in the Fall 2019 Semester. The pilot program allows both institutions to assess the effectiveness of the procedures before adding additional majors.

“We value our continuing collaboration with West Liberty and this agreement strengthens our long standing partnership aimed at student success,” commented WVNCC Interim President Mike Koon. “The ability to attain an associate degree, even after a student has transferred to West Liberty, is not only of tremendous significance to our students, but to our region, as these students enter the workforce. Studies have shown that individuals completing an associate degree earn $4,640 to $7,160 more per year than those that enter college but receive no degree.”

“This agreement benefits our students, the region and the entire state. It also supports West Virginia’s Climb, the new attainment goal that challenges all West Virginia’s public colleges and universities to find new ways to make the college dream a reality for West Virginians,” said Dr. Stephen Greiner, WLU President. “We are pleased to work with students who earned credits at West Virginia Northern and wish to attain an associate degree as they push on towards their bachelor degree.”

West Virginia Northern Community College is a two-year comprehensive community college offering transfer degrees and programs in the Liberal Arts, Career-Technical and Community and Continuing Education with campuses in Wheeling, New Martinsville and Weirton.

West Liberty University is West Virginia’s oldest institution. Today it offers more than 70 undergraduate majors, plus a growing number of graduate programs, both online and in the classroom. For more information, please visit westliberty.edu.

For more information on the recently announced West Virginia’s Climb initiative to equip 60 percent of West Virginians with a certificate or degree by 2030, please visit wvclimb.com.