ECC partners with Roosevelt to simplify student transfers

A partnership between Elgin Community College and Roosevelt University will enable students who complete an associate degree at the community college to transfer to the four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree and beyond.

The Dual Degree Program, signed by both institutions’ presidents on Friday, grants students enrolled in ECC’s program acceptance to Roosevelt University once they have completed their associate degree requirements. A student’s bachelor’s degree requirements are then locked in for three years at Roosevelt University after the student selects his intended major.

“This program provides a pathway for full-time students to earn high-quality, accessible and affordable four-year degrees close to home from both ECC and Roosevelt,” Roosevelt President Chuck Middleton said during a ceremony at ECC.

David Sam, president of ECC, said the partnership exemplifies the college’s dedication to improving lives through education.

“It provides another opportunity for our students to continue their education and fulfill their educational goals,” Sam said in a news release. “We are proud to join Roosevelt in this endeavor.”

Rose DiGerlando, vice president of teaching, learning and student development at ECC, said students will be able to take advantage of academic counseling and financial incentives, including scholarships and awards. Student also will save on tuition costs. ECC has similar partnerships with DePaul University, Columbia College in Missouri, and Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, DiGerlando said.

“It will make their education more affordable,” DiGerlando said. “The annual tuition at ECC for a full-time student is $3,150. By choosing ECC for their first two years, students will save approximately $35,000 over a 4-year period.”

Furthermore, students will have access to counselor and advisers who will help students develop and follow four-year academic plans to ensure that none of their credits are lost when they transfer, said Douglas Knerr, provost of Roosevelt’s Schaumburg campus.

In addition, the two institutions have expanded “degree completion articulations” — or pathways that ensure students a smooth transition to Roosevelt University. Already, Roosevelt University has established a pathway for a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and is working on offering similar programs for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, the Bachelor of Arts in Information Technology, the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, and the Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications.