NIU, ECC ink deal allowing reverse credit transfer

Northern Illinois University students who haven't completed their two-year associate degree from Elgin Community College now can transfer credit from NIU courses to graduate from ECC.

NIU and ECC inked the deal Tuesday allowing for the reverse transfer of credits. The DeKalb-based state university has similar agreements with seven other community colleges - Waubonsee, Kishwaukee, Rock Valley, McHenry County, Lake County, Oakton, and City Colleges of Chicago.

"We know an associate degree is a meaningful credential that increases one's employability," ECC President David Sam said. "If our former students can achieve that while pursuing a bachelor's degree at NIU, it's a win-win for everyone."

The deal will benefit 521 current NIU students who transferred from ECC without completing 60 credit hours to earn their associate degrees.

Sam is not afraid of losing more students to NIU. He said there are many nontraditional adult students for whom it may take up to 10 years to earn their bachelor's degrees. Having an associate degree in hand could improve their chances of finding better employment, he added.

"The goal is not just to get them to ECC ... we want them to go to college. Period," he said. "If they leave early, fine. We are interested in the life they will lead long after they are done with both institutions, and this agreement will help students achieve what they need. Students have their dreams and our goals are to help them achieve those dreams."

Community college education increases earnings for workers, adds skills to the state's workforce and boosts the state's competitiveness, according to a 2014 NIU Center for Governmental Studies report to the Illinois Community College Board.

Community college graduates also can expect a lifetime earnings gain of more than $570,000 - a 44 percent increase compared to those who do not complete a community college program, the report said.

"Postsecondary education is a powerful force for career advancement, and a skilled workforce helps the region maintain its competitive advantage," NIU President Doug Baker said. "This partnership provides affordable access to high-quality educational opportunities that prepare students for their lives and careers by eliminating barriers and fostering innovative educational paths between levels of higher education."

Baker said students could save tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and fees, room and board costs.

The reverse credit transfer option allows students to get started on their four-year bachelor's degree earlier. The college course may meet the requirements of the associate and bachelor's degrees, officials said.

It also frees students to pursue degrees in technical fields, such as engineering, in which a community college may not offer courses.

"So they wouldn't be slowed down and take courses that they didn't necessarily need for their (bachelor's) degree," Baker said. "It's the right thing to do for students and ECC."

NIU is working on similar credit transfer deals with nearly a dozen colleges throughout the region, said Jerry Montag, NIU director of records and registration.

"We're also trying to (encourage) other state universities to do the same thing that NIU is doing with their community colleges," Montag said.

NIU already has numerous partnerships with community colleges in the region.

"What we are really trying to do is strengthen those relations so that it will enable students to make a seamless transition between community colleges and larger institutions," NIU spokesman Paul Palian said. "We are engaged with students as early as middle school in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. Anything to facilitate the seamless transition from high school to community college to four-year university and eliminate those barriers is going to be helpful, and cost effective for students as well."