Elmhurst, Triton colleges reach pact to benefit business students

An agreement between Elmhurst and Triton colleges will enable business and accounting students from Triton to seamlessly transfer credits to Elmhurst, where they can complete their bachelor's degree.

Leaders from the two schools signed the 2+2 articulation agreement on April 11 to allow students to receive both an associate and bachelor's degree in four years.

The first two years of a student's education are spent at Triton, the final two at Elmhurst. Students must meet the admission requirements of both institutions and both will provide advisers to assist students in planning their program of study.

"It's really about reaching out to students and finding out their needs and how we, as administrators and faculty members, can provide opportunities for them to reach their full potential through the academic excellence that is offered at both Elmhurst College and Triton College," Elmhurst President Troy D. VanAken said.

Under the agreement, Elmhurst will accept Triton students with an associate of arts degree as long as those students meet Elmhurst's admission requirements.

The students then may transfer up to 70 credits hours to Elmhurst beginning in the 2018 fall term. This includes a required 25 semester hours of accounting or business administration course credits, which can be applied toward the bachelor's degree requirements in those programs.

"The Triton College School of Business has reached another milestone event with our partners from Elmhurst College as we sign the Enhanced 2+2 Articulation Agreement," said William Griffin, department coordinator for Triton.

"This cooperative relationship between the two institutions will better accommodate our students' degree completion program."

"Triton College and Elmhurst College already have a well-integrated partnership, and this only adds to strengthen that partnership," Triton President Mary-Rita Moore said.

"It's all about collaborating and helping our students to reach their end goals, and this articulation agreement will help students of today and students of the future meet their goals."

Triton is a two-year community college based in River Grove that serves 25 communities in western Cook County.

Elmhurst is a four-year college that offers more than 60 undergraduate majors, 15 graduate programs, evening and online programs for adults, and the Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy for young adults with differing abilities.