N.C. Wesleyan/BCCC partnership classes announced;applications now being accepted | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Classes will begin this summer at Beaufort County Community College that will enable eligible students to earn a bachelor's degree from N.C. Wesleyan College without having to drive to Rocky Mount.

    As a result of an agreement between the two colleges, students will be able to earn a four-year degree in psychology from N.C. Wesleyan by taking classes on the BCCC campus.

    Registration for the first two classes in the program - Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Religion - will be May 6 through June 28 with classes scheduled to begin July 1, college officials announced this week.

    Four additional classes will be offered during the fall in sessions scheduled for Aug. 26 through Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 through Dec. 15.

    "We are proud to partner with N.C. Wesleyan to offer this opportunity to people in the region who want to continue their education and improve their ability to find a well-paying job," said BCCC President Barbara Tansey. "Working adults can return to school to earn a bachelor's degree at convenient times and at a reasonable cost."

    Enrollment in the program is open to any graduate of Beaufort County Community, Martin County Community or Pitt Community College as well as other students who have earned a large number of credits from other colleges but have yet to earn a bachelor's degree.

    BCCC graduates with a 2.0 grade point average will be automatically accepted into the program, although transfer credit will be given only for those courses with a grade of "C" or higher.

    Tuition for the classes will be charged at a rate comparable to the direct cost at N.C. State University, East Carolina University and other state-supported universities.

    "Psychology is a liberal arts degree that is popular with employers," Dr. Tansey said. "A psychology degree is good preparation to enter the work force in human resources and criminal justice fields and is good preparation for pursuing advanced educational degrees."

    The classes are offered through N.C. Wesleyan's ASPIRE, or Adult Student Programs: Innovative, Respected & Engaging, Program.

    ASPIRE classes are offered one night a week in class sessions that are typically scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. in eight-week formats. Online classes will also be available to students.

    It is a schedule that is very compatible with the needs of working adults, according to Evan Duff, vice president of Adult and Professional Studies at N.C. Wesleyan.

    Last year, Dr. Tansey, N.C. Wesleyan President James A. Gray, and Russell Smith, chairman of the BCCC Board of Trustees, signed an agreement that established ASPIRE on the BCCC campus ─ making BCCC the latest community college in eastern North Carolina to offer bachelor's degree courses through N.C. Wesleyan.

    Tansey and Gray said at the time that they hope to expand the BCCC-based course offerings in the future.

    The agreement also calls for financial aid considerations that will help BCCC graduates who want to attend N.C. Wesleyan College on its Rocky Mount campus and pursue degrees other than psychology, according to Dr. Tansey.

    For more information about the ASPIRE Program at BCCC or to apply for admission, interested persons should contact Bob Davis, ASPIRE regional coordinator, at (252) 493-7451 or by email at rcdavis@ncwc.edu.

    Davis will also be available on the BCCC campus 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning March 13 in Room 21 of Building 11 to meet with prospective students.

    Beaufort County Community College is a public comprehensive community college committed to accessible and affordable quality education, effective teaching, relevant training, and lifelong learning opportunities for the people served by the College.