Gateway Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside renewed their promise to move “Forward Together” as they signed seven transfer – 2-plus-2 articulation – agreements allowing Gateway students who graduate from the seven programs to enter UW-Parkside as juniors.
In an effort to increase access to higher education and student success in their future careers, the two institutions are strengthening the relationship they have been building in the past several years to align curriculum and create additional seamless transfers from Gateway to UW-Parkside.
Many students today see competing priorities of school, work and finances as barriers to higher education and a career that will allow them to support a family. This agreement helps remove some of those barriers.
“I applaud the hard work of Gateway and UW-Parkside staff who recognized the value of these agreements and worked hard to make them happen for the benefit of students and our community,” said Gateway President and CEO Bryan Albrecht. “We are committed to enhancing our region's educational accessibility and quality. These agreements work to the students' benefit and they strengthen our institutions as well.”
University of Wisconsin-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford recalled the history of collaboration between the two institutions. “While Parkside is rather young in comparison to Gateway, the first publically funded technical college in the United States, our partnerships run deeper than many realize,” she said. “For decades, Gateway and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside have worked together to benefit our communities and provide the talent base our businesses and organizations need.”
This latest additions to the partnership and its meaning for students were celebrated today in a signing ceremony at UW-Parkside by Chancellor Ford and President Albrecht. Even mascots from the two schools joined in.
Students graduating from Gateway with degrees in accounting, business management, marketing, and supervisory management will have the opportunity to transfer into UW-Parkside in the programs of accounting, management information systems, and business management (with concentration areas of general business, finance, human resource management, and marketing) in the UW-Parkside College of Business, Economics, and Computing; students graduating with a Gateway degree in graphic communications will have the opportunity to transfer into UW-Parkside’s graphic design (art) degree program in the UW-Parkside College of Arts and Humanities.
Depending on the degree, Gateway students will see 54 to 62 of their credits accepted at UW-Parkside. This is considered a true 2-plus-2 agreement, where students transfer into the university with junior standing.
These agreements provide students even greater options for their education and career. They can earn a technical college degree and enter the workforce – but still have the opportunity earn a baccalaureate degree. It also allows students who want to begin their education at Gateway, and continue at UW-Parkside, the peace of mind to know that their credits will be accepted at the four-year university – and the time and money invested will be recognized.
Articulation agreements aren’t new to the two institutions, but the new agreements are the most broad and extensive – and represent the greatest options offered to students to gain higher education. Most Gateway and UW-Parkside students live and work in southeastern Wisconsin, so the agreement has the ability to greatly impact area students, their families, and businesses and organizations in the region.
Gateway students wishing to participate in the transfer agreements should contact their program adviser. About Gateway Technical College: Gateway Technical College collaborates with communities in Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties to ensure economic growth and viability by providing education, training, leadership and technological resources to meet the changing needs of students, employers and communities.
About the University of Wisconsin-Parkside: The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is one of 13 four-year campuses in the University of Wisconsin System. Founded in 1968 to better serve the needs of a growing population in southeastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois, UW-Parkside offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs and serves as an academic and cultural resource. The campus is located at 900 Wood Rd. in Somers.
