Elms College and STCC form educational partnership

Date: 5/3/2011

May 4, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD — Elms College continued its partnership program with other colleges last week with the announcement of a new accord with Springfield Technical Community College (STCC).

The agreement signed by STCC President Dr. Ira Rubenzahl and Elms College President Sister Mary Reap, will allow STCC graduates to continue their work toward a four-year degree from the Elms College on the STCC campus.

The first degree offered this way would be a bachelor of science in Social Work.

The two college presidents made the announcement last week on the STCC campus.

Rubenzahl said the two schools have been working on the arrangement for a number of months.

"Higher education is really the ticket for our community," Reap said. She added that there is a need for additional social workers locally in the period between this year and 2018.

"With growing numbers of Springfield Technical Community College students earning associate degrees, we are pleased to provide them with the opportunity to complete their bachelor's degree in less than two years," Reap said. "The increase in college graduates resulting from this partnership will serve our shared goals of helping to meet the needs of our community."

According to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, about 60 percent of all new jobs created from economic growth between 2006 and 2016 will require an associate's degree or higher.

Dr. Walter Breau, the academic vice president for Elms College, said the new program would offer a greater affordability and accessibility for working adults. He explained the 20-month program would meet on Saturdays.

Last year, Elms and Holyoke Community College (HCC) went into a similar agreement offering HCC graduates a program to earn a four-year degree. Elms College officials announced last week that program has now grown to offer two more degrees one in Health Services Administration and another in Early Childhood Leadership.

The new programs will be added to the existing Elms/HCC degree offerings of Accounting and Information Systems, Business Management, and Psychology.

"This joint program is faster and less expensive than the traditional route, enabling students to quickly see the rewards of higher education realized in their careers," Dr. Betty Hukowicz, associate academic dean of the Division of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at Elms College, said.