WKU, JCTC sign joint admissions agreement

Presidents Dr. Ty J. Handy of Jefferson Community and Technical College and Dr. Gary Ransdell of WKU signed a joint admissions agreement Wednesday (March 23) that will pave the way for JCTC students to have an easier path to a bachelor’s degree at WKU.

Presidents Dr. Ty J. Handy of Jefferson Community and Technical College and Dr. Gary Ransdell of WKU signed a joint admissions agreement March 23. (WKU photo by Bob Skipper)

Students can be admitted to both JCTC and WKU at the same time through this agreement. With this agreement, JCTC and WKU hope to:

• improve student success and degree attainment at the associate and baccalaureate levels
• reduce the time to earn a degree at both the associate and bachelor’s degree levels
• expand student options for college services
• improve academic program articulation by eliminating transfer barriers
• expand financial aid resources to support “two plus two” students
• use resources at both institutions more effectively and efficiently
• plan, develop and align instructional programs at the undergraduate level

Both institutions will recruit students for the joint admissions program and jointly admitted JCTC students will have access to student services at WKU, such as cultural events, sporting events, library services, dining facilities and student organizations.

All students admitted through the program benefit from the WKU advisor assigned to them to ensure a smooth transition from JCTC to the university level, although academic advising will be a joint responsibility. WKU advisors regularly visit JCTC campuses helping to build strong relationships  and successful transitions for jointly admitted students. Students will also be eligible for transfer student scholarships. Detailed information on scholarship requirements may be found at http://www.wku.edu/scholarship/.

“WKU is an ideal transfer institution for Jefferson students, offering nationally recognized programs, supportive faculty and staff, and a welcoming campus environment,” Dr. Handy said. “JCTC students will enter Western well prepared for a rigorous program of study and eager for the opportunities that await them as graduates.”

Dr. Ransdell said WKU is proud to sign a joint admissions agreement with JCTC.

“The Metro Louisville area is very important to WKU both in terms of student recruitment and alumni base,” he said. “This agreement further enhances educational opportunities for students in the metro area who are looking for an affordable, efficient path to a four-year degree.”

Dr. Ransdell said this makes the ninth such agreement with a KCTCS campus.  WKU also has agreements with Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, Henderson Community College, Hopkinsville Community College, Madisonville Community College, Owensboro Community and Technical College, Somerset Community College and Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College. WKU also has agreements with Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee, and Ivy Tech Community College-Southwest in Evansville, Indiana.

“These agreements are largely why WKU leads the Commonwealth in KCTCS transfers,” he said.  “We value the number of KCTCS transfers who complete a WKU bachelor’s degree, and the significant role which they play in the quality of life on our four WKU campuses in Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Glasgow and Owensboro.  We welcome JCTC students into the WKU higher education community.”

In addition to joint admissions, WKU offers programs that help KCTCS students who wish to transfer, said Chris Jensen, Associate Director of the Academic Advising and Retention Center. Those programs include scholarships for KCTCS transfer students and special programs for those completing an associate’s degree, he said. Students can take classes at the Bowling Green campus or at regional campuses in Elizabethtown/Fort Knox, Glasgow or Owensboro.

Contact: Lisa Brosky, (502) 213-2400; or Bob Skipper, (270) 745-4295