Moraine Valley Community College and Governors State University (GSU) recently joined the statewide TransferBOOST (Bachelor’s Opportunity Options that are Straightforward and Transparent) initiative by partnering to offer a new transfer pathway. This collaboration grants Moraine Valley students guaranteed admission into several GSU degree programs by completing a qualifying Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree.
Representatives from Moraine Valley Community College and Governors State University applaud the recent TransferBOOST agreement between their two institutions.
(Back row, left to right) Mushtaq Choudhary, Governors State’s dean of Students; Lise Schneider, Governors State’s executive director of Admissions; Dr. Timothy Forde, Governors State’s associate provost/AVP Academic Affairs; Dr. LoShay Willis, Moraine Valley’s dean of Career Programs; Dr. Kiana Battle, Moraine Valley’s dean of Liberal Arts; Friedman; and Sumeet Singh, department chair of Counseling and Advising at Moraine Valley.
(Front row, left to right), Paul McGuinness, Governors State’s vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management; Schneller; Dr. Sylvia M. Jenkins, Moraine Valley’s former president; and Haney.
The TransferBOOST initiative is a multi-year, state-level initiative developed to provide students with an affordable, well-supported pathway from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree. The TransferBOOST initiative in Illinois is a collaboration among the Institute for Higher Education Policy, HCM Strategists, Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College Board, three public universities and five community colleges.
Students earning an A.A.S. degree often immediately enter a career after they graduate. Since A.A.S. degrees provide a strong academic foundation and specialized knowledge, they also can be a springboard for students to pursue a bachelor’s degree, which may help them advance in their careers.
The TransferBOOST initiative between Moraine Valley and GSU creates a transfer pathway for students with specific A.A.S. degrees to complete a bachelor’s degree affordably and in a timely manner. The agreement allows Moraine Valley students with this degree and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to transfer to the university under the initiative and enroll in a minimum of six credit hours to receive a renewable $2,500 award per academic year. This is in addition to other financial aid and scholarships.
Dr. Pamela Haney, president of Moraine Valley, said, “The TransferBOOST collaboration with Governors State University will provide an equitable and clear pathway for our students as they transfer from Moraine Valley to GSU. I applaud everyone involved in making this initiative happen. I am sure students who take advantage of this opportunity will benefit greatly from it.”
“We are so pleased to formalize our TransferBOOST agreement with Moraine Valley Community College,” added Dr. Beverly Schneller, Governors State University’s provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. “GSU and Moraine Valley continue to provide excellent, collaboratively designed learning opportunities for students in the Southland. We look forward to our ongoing partnership grounded in high quality academic programs and strong learning support systems to promote student success on their journeys to excellence.”
The two institutions mapped out clearly defined pathways for students to earn their bachelor’s degree at GSU after earning an A.A.S. degree in several areas of study, including health care, early childhood education and information technology.
Dr. Scott Friedman, Moraine Valley’s dean of Student Engagement, said, “The Governors State University and Moraine Valley faculty held extensive discussions to ensure the maximum amount of transfer credit would be granted to our students.”
To learn which A.A.S. degree programs at Moraine Valley are included in the TransferBOOST initiative, visit morainevalley.edu/transferboost.
For media inquiries, contact Karen Town, communications specialist, at (708) 974-5652 or town@morainevalley.edu.
