Jamestown Community College is the newest addition to SUNY's dual admission program, which will allow JCC's applied associate of science degree in nursing to be applied towards the UB bachelor of science degree in nursing.
Jennifer S. Gottdiener, director of transfer and articulation services at UB, said that the main mission of the program is to aid transfer students in their transition, curbing unnecessary red tape across the schools.
"Dual-admission program have been created to help participating students have a smooth transition to UB by giving them the necessary information to prepare to the fullest extent possible for study in participating UB majors," Gottdiener said.
Credit for the initial idea of this program between JCC and UB can be attributed Gottdiener, as well as Bob Phillips, transfer articulation coordinator at JCC.
"Several years ago, I began a dialogue with Bob Phillips about the possibility of developing a dual program," she said. "It was a team effort. This type of program has a long history at UB - the initial dual admissions program, with Monroe Community College, was signed in 1994."
UB already participates in dual admission programs with Fulton-Montgomery CC and six other SUNY community colleges: Broome CC, Erie CC, Genesee CC, Monroe CC, Niagara County CC and Onondaga CC.
The collaboration of the admissions program does not guarantee JCC graduated acceptance to UB upon completion of an associate's degree.
"Students in the program have to meet course and GPA requirements like every other student applying to a major," Gottdiener said.
Another program in the works is a dual admission between UB's biotechnology program and a proposed new A.S. degree in biotechnology at JCC. Although already approved at the departmental level, the dual program has yet to be submitted for the final stages of approval by both UB and JCC administrators. The addition to the dual program is waiting upon state approval of JCC's degree.
With plans underway for UB's expansion over the next fifteen years, the dual admissions program is not expected to greatly affect the projected increased enrollment. The actual number of students participating in the dual admission is small; consequently, the effect of the program should not be dramatic.
JCC graduates whom have already transferred to UB are also a small percentage of current students at the University.
Gottdiener said that an estimated 1-2 students per year may participate in this program. but not all of them will transfer to UB. She added that those who do transfer will not all transfer through the dual admissions program, but that doesn't mean that the program is not important.
"Students who transfer to UB are an important part of the UB and SUNY community. By helping community college students transition to UB and prepare for study in their intended majors, the dual admission programs aims to improve their UB experience and their academic successes." Gottdiener said.
