STCC, Western New England strengthen academic, student support partnerships

Maria Toyoda, left, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Western New England University, and John B. Cook, STCC president, shake hands after signing a Joint Admissions Agreement.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College and Western New England University continue to work together to offer access from a two-year degree to baccalaureate and graduate education.

According to a renewed joint admissions agreement signed by leadership of the two institutions on June 13, students enrolled at STCC will continue to have an opportunity to transfer to Western New England upon completion of their two-year associate degree program.

Maria Toyoda, left, and John B. Cook, STCC president, sign a Joint Admissions Agreement.

The Joint Admissions Program is open to students who are enrolled in an STCC program that meets requirements for transfer to Western New England. The programs listed on the Western New England website include:

  • Biology Option
  • Business Option
  • Chemistry Option
  • Computer Science Option
  • Criminal Justice Option
  • Cybersecurity Option
  • Engineering Option
  • Mathematics Option
  • Programmer Option

Students applying to STCC will be informed about the opportunity to participate in the Joint Admissions Program. As part of a structured plan, students must maintain minimum grade point averages to gain admissions to Western New England through the program.

Under terms of the program, STCC and Western New England will support advisement of participating students. While enrolled at STCC, students will have access to a Western New England University representative. The agreement runs for five years.

“We are thrilled to renew and strengthen our partnership with Western New England University,” said Dr. John B. Cook, STCC President. “This is an important partnership between a public and private institution that greatly benefits our students.”

Dr. Kiyota Garcia, Dean of Student Initiatives at STCC, said, “This gives our students a wonderful opportunity to transfer seamlessly from a public community colleges into a private university. The Joint Admissions Program creates an affordable pathway to a bachelor’s and graduate degree in a variety of academic programs.”

“Western New England University is pleased to partner with Springfield Technical Community College, the only technical community college in the state, on this joint articulation agreement,” said Dr. Maria Toyoda, WNE’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Providing numerous avenues to educational opportunities is of great importance to WNE, as we strive to meet students where they are. With this partnership, students have another way to make their educational aspirations become a reality.”

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

About Western New England University

Western New England University (WNE) is a private, nationally ranked, comprehensive institution with a focus on preparing work-ready and world-ready graduates. Founded in 1919 in Springfield, Massachusetts as a division of Northeastern College, WNE’s 215-acre suburban campus serves more than 3,700 students, including over 2,500 full-time undergraduates. More than 47,000 alumni have earned degrees through its 90+ undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs at Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and School of Law. Students come from 39 U.S. states and territories and 23 countries. Of 45,104 living alumni, 30% remain within the region, residing in the four Western Massachusetts counties and northern Connecticut.

WNE is classified among nationally ranked universities in US News and World Report, and among the Top 100 Undergraduate Engineering programs, and in the Doctoral/Professional Universities category in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu