Today, twenty-seven public and private colleges and universities announced their participation in the first national network of two- and four-year academic institutions, designed to provide high potential community college students with the chance to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. While states like Virginia and Maryland have in-state transfer partnerships with community colleges, this is the first national network of its kind to allow students who start at community college to pursue bachelor’s degrees at leading institutions across the country.
The twenty-seven institutions join the American Honors Network, a collaboration between Quad Learning and leading community colleges that affordably serves students of high motivation and ability for the first two years of their college education through the American Honors program.
“Auburn is excited to partner with American Honors to attract talented transfer students from across the U.S. and around the world to gain the benefits of the wonderful education and research opportunities that a land-grant university can provide,” says Emmett Winn, Professor and Associate Provost at Auburn University.
Students attend rigorous courses at their community college designed to prepare them for junior- and senior-level coursework at the best colleges and universities in the country. At the conclusion of the two-year program, students will earn an associate degree with honors and will have the opportunity to apply for transfer to a top four-year university, including those within this new network, to complete their bachelor’s degrees.
“The Brandeis historical commitment to access for exceptional students is well aligned with the model American Honors proposes,” says Dr. Andrew Flagel, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment at Brandeis University. “Providing a consistent honors-level curriculum for the diverse community college student enrollment offers a great opportunity for elite institutions to expand admission considerations.”
New partnerships announced today include leading institutions across the country who will work with the American Honors Network to facilitate transfer of credits for students admitted for transfer:
| Auburn University*
Amherst College Brandeis University Connecticut College Denison University DePauw University Georgetown University, School of Continuing Studies George Mason University* The George Washington University Gonzaga University* Illinois Institute of Technology Lafayette College Middlebury College |
Mount Holyoke College
Occidental College The Ohio State University Purdue University Royal Roads University Smith College Swarthmore College University of Arizona* University of California, Los Angeles University of Puget Sound University of Rochester Whittier College* Whitworth University* Wabash College |
| * These schools will guarantee admission to American Honors students who complete the program in good academic standing. |
“We know the power of student engagement,” says Dr. Christine Johnson, Chancellor of Community Colleges of Spokane, which offers an American Honors program. “American Honors facilitates a different kind of learning. It’s about having students interact with each other and with the instructor.”
In its inaugural year, American Honors program graduates were accepted to schools within and beyond the American Honors network including Stanford, Cornell, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, University of Michigan, Rutgers, Purdue, Reed, and Occidental.
“Around the country today, many successful community college students are missing out on opportunities to attend colleges that match their academic abilities. We are passionate about seeing those students transfer to a university where they can meet their full potential.” says Dr. David Finegold, Chief Academic Officer for American Honors. “We’re excited to launch our transfer network, which will connect our outstanding students with many top universities throughout the country.”
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American Honors is a 2-year honors program offered through the collaboration of DC-based Quad Learning and leading community colleges. For more information about the American Honors program and network, visit http://americanhonors.org. Contact our media relations team at [email protected].
