12-04-06

Iowa Valley Community College District, Iowa State announce Admissions Partnership Program

AMES and MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa -- Iowa State University and Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD) have joined forces to make it more convenient for IVCCD students who want to earn a bachelor's degree to transfer to Iowa State. Iowa Valley Chancellor Tim Wynes and ISU President Gregory Geoffroy announced the joint admission program at a news conference today at IVCCD's Marshalltown campus.

Iowa Valley Comm. College District Chancellor Tim Wynes (left) and ISU President Gregory Geoffroy

IVCCD operates Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown; Ellsworth Community College, Iowa Falls; Iowa Valley Community College, Grinnell; and Iowa Valley Continuing Education.

Through the Admissions Partnership Program, IVCCD students who plan to pursue a bachelor's degree at Iowa State will receive special benefits to help pave the way for academic success at both schools. Students accepted into the Admissions Partnership Program will receive the following benefits while still enrolled at an IVCCD campus:

• Advising and guidance from IVCCD and Iowa State
• Opportunities to live in Iowa State University housing
• Access to career exploration opportunities at Iowa State
• ISU student pricing for athletic and cultural events
• Opportunities to participate in early orientation and registration prior to transfer to Iowa State
• Guaranteed acceptance into a bachelor's program at Iowa State, provided all college and program requirements are met at the time of transfer

This new relationship with IVCCD expands Iowa State's outreach to the state's community college students. ISU launched its pilot Admissions Partnership Program with Des Moines Area Community College last February.

"We have been very pleased with the success of the Admissions Partnership Program, and we are excited about expanding this innovative program with the students, faculty and staff of the Iowa Valley Community College District. Community colleges play an important role in educating Iowa students, and our admissions partnerships with them provide students with many additional benefits, opportunities and possibilities for their educational careers. We look forward to welcoming IVCCD students into this program and, in the future, as students at Iowa State," said Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy.

"The agreement expands educational opportunities for central Iowa students," said IVCCD Chancellor Tim Wynes. "Iowa Valley students can enroll at Iowa State more efficiently and seamlessly, continuing to maximize coursework on our campuses while moving into Iowa State programs. We are pleased to work with Iowa State because this will enhance the academic experience for students at Ellsworth Community College, Marshalltown Community College and Iowa Valley Community College, Grinnell. We believe this program will provide our students a distinct advantage."

Students who want to be a part of the Admissions Partnership Program must enroll at an IVCCD campus as a degree-seeking student. Following admission to IVCCD, students will work with their IVCCD counselors to complete and submit an application form. A student who is accepted into the program by Iowa State:

1. Meets with his or her IVCCD counselor each semester prior to registration;
2. Consults with an assigned ISU academic advisor each semester;
3. Follows a course of study at IVCCD that will meet ISU entrance requirements and fulfill college and program requirements for his or her intended major;
4. Submits an "Intent to Enroll" form and pays an application fee to ISU, one semester prior to transferring to Iowa State.

More information about the Admissions Partnership Program is available online at http://www.admissions.iastate.edu/partnership, through an IVCCD counselor, or through Matt Thompson, an ISU admissions counselor who has regular office hours at the IVCCD campuses to assist transfer students. Thompson can be reached at (515) 294-9334 or e-mail at matthewt@iastate.edu. Applications are available at all IVCCD campuses now.

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