NRCC News

Ferrum College & New River Community College Sign Agreement to Provide Pathway to Four-Year Degrees

Feb 26 2020

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This article was published on Feb 26 2020 and was archived on Feb 01 2021. The information below may be outdated or inaccurate.

Ferrum College & New River Community College Sign Agreement to Provide Pathway to Four-Year Degrees

Ferrum and Dublin, VA (February 26, 2020) – Ferrum College and New River Community College (NRCC) announced today an agreement that will guarantee admission into Ferrum College for NRCC students who have received an associate degree. In addition, as part of the Ferrum Promise initiative which was rolled out in November 2019, Ferrum College also pledges that these NRCC students will be able to graduate with a four-year degree in their field of study within two years of transfer to Ferrum, or tuition for their remaining coursework will be free.

“Ferrum College is delighted to begin working with New River Community College to provide a pathway for NRCC students to obtain a bachelor’s degree in two years as our Ferrum Promise guarantees,” said Ferrum College President David Johns. “Both our institutions are committed to our students’ futures and to providing the resources they need for innovative and meaningful work.”

“NRCC is pleased to partner with Ferrum College to provide this new opportunity to our local students.  In addition to our existing articulation agreement with Ferrum that allows NRCC students to transfer easily, the Ferrum Promise goes one step further to help students stay on track and be successful on their journey to earn a four-year degree,” said NRCC President Pat Huber. “Today is an exciting day for NRCC students, and this is a great way for them to complete their pathway to success.”

The memorandum of agreement states that acceptance at Ferrum College will require NRCC students to have maintained a cumulative overall GPA of 2.3 or higher, and earned a grade of “C” or higher in required courses applicable to the program they choose to enter. Additionally, NRCC students must have earned either an associate of arts and sciences degree or an associate of applied science degree prior to acceptance at Ferrum.

The agreement was signed on the NRCC campus by Huber and Johns, along with Vice President for Instruction and Student Services Peter Anderson, and Ferrum College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Aimé Sposato.

“Our partnership with New River Community College illustrates both of our institutions’ commitment to our students,” said Sposato. “Higher education is changing and our methods of providing a top-notch education must also change to help our students start making a difference in the world sooner than later. We are honored to partner with NRCC for this opportunity.”

About Ferrum College:
Ferrum College is a private, Methodist-affiliated, liberal arts college of over 1,000 students, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Ferrum, VA. The Ferrum experience is rich with opportunities for internships; hands-on learning; research and study-abroad opportunities as a first-year student and beyond; and excellent financial aid and scholarship packages. Ferrum College is also the first and only higher education institution in Virginia to extend the Ferrum Promise, guaranteeing that students transferring to the College with an appropriate associate’s degree will graduate with a four-year degree within two years of transfer.

About New River Community College:
New River Community College, which opened in 1969, is a comprehensive community college located in Virginia’s New River Valley, serving an estimated 4,500 students in the counties of Montgomery, Floyd, Pulaski and Giles and the city of Radford. NRCC prepares students for various occupational programs as well as college transfer programs. NRCC’s mission is to give everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills so lives and communities are strengthened.

Photo from left to right: Dr. Aime Sposato, Ferrum College provost; Dr. David Johns, Ferrum president; Dr. Pat Huber, NRCC president; Dr. Peter Anderson, NRCC Vice President for Instruction and Student Services.