Contact: Chris Chesrown
Media Relations Manager
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May 2001

The Nation's Largest Community College District and the Nation's Largest Private University Partner in a Business Management Degree Aimed at Community College Graduates

The Maricopa Community Colleges and University of Phoenix sign a partnership that allows for a seamless transition for community college graduates to a Baccalaureate program.

Greater Phoenix, AZ - The Maricopa County Community College District and University of Phoenix today announced a partnership that allows graduates from any of the Maricopa Community Colleges to transfer into the Bachelor of Science in Management (BSM) degree to any of the University of Phoenix campuses. The agreement is specifically designed to permit the maximum transfer of credits and provide a seamless transition for any graduate with an Associate degree from any of the Maricopa Community Colleges, regardless of the year of graduation.

"The BSM degree focuses on the development of general management roles for adult learners, building on the knowledge they have acquired in their Associate degree," said Dr. Laura Palmer Noone, University of Phoenix President. The BSM program has a 36 credit core unit requirement within 12 courses, most of which are management-related. "The idea for the new BSM grew out of a request from the League for Innovation in Community Colleges, the University of Phoenix and the Maricopa Community Colleges to overcome obstacles which sometimes confront a student with an Associate degree seeking a Bachelor's degree," Noone added.

"The partnership provides our community college graduates the opportunity to complete a management degree in their field of study and to receive maximum credit for the work they completed for their Associate degree. This provides great flexibility to our graduates since they may also enroll at any of the University of Phoenix locations throughout the United States," said Dr. Anna Solley, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Student Development, Maricopa Community Colleges.

Dr. Fred Gaskin, Chancellor of the Maricopa Community Colleges, said, "We are excited about this specific articulation agreement with University of Phoenix because of the career growth opportunities it provides for our alumni. Many may already be in supervisory management positions and want to further their business management skills and others may want to pursue management level positions. This partnership opens new doors for our community college graduates."

The partnership includes the following elements: Upon completion of an Associate degree - occupational or transfer - (an admission requirement for the Bachelor of Science in Management program), students from any of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges are eligible and guaranteed admission to any of the University of Phoenix locations throughout the United States.
Associate degrees awarded by any of the Maricopa Community Colleges will transfer automatically to University of Phoenix as a block of credit. A maximum of 72 credits will apply to the Bachelor of Science in Management degree.
Students can complete the Bachelor of Science in Management degree without having to retake Associate degree classes in their major area. Upon completion of the BSM program, the Associate degree focus will be listed as an area of emphasis on the Baccalaureate transcript and diploma.

The Bachelor of Science in Management program is designed for working adults in such industries as information technology health management, business, accounting, theatre arts, culinary sciences, just to name a few. The Bachelor of Science in Management degree focuses on developing the basic skill needed to manage people and processes in their own professional context.

The Maricopa County Community College District, the largest community college district in the nation, is composed of 10 community colleges, several satellite campuses, skill centers and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves over 264,000 students annually.

University of Phoenix, the nation's largest private university, was founded in 1976. Today the university has more than 8,500 working adult students attending its eight campuses in Maricopa County and over 90,000 students at campuses in 19 states, Puerto Rico and Vancouver, B.C. University of Phoenix is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, 312-263-0456. www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org.

For information on an Associate degree at one of the Maricopa Community Colleges, call 480-731-8000 or visit www.maricopa.edu For additional information on the new Bachelor of Science program, call 480-557-2000 or visit www.phoenix.edu

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March 13, 2002