Contact: Chris Chesrown
Media Relations Manager
480-731-8503

EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP MAKES ON-LINE BACHELOR’S
DEGREE MORE CONVENIENT TO ATTAIN THAN EVER

MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND CAPELLA UNIVERISTY SIGN CREDIT TRANSFER
AGREEMENT AIMING TO EASE TRANSITION TO FOUR YEAR PROGRAM

Greater Phoenix, August 23, 2001 - Maricopa Community Colleges, one of the largest community college districts in the nation, and Capella University, the fastest-growing accredited, online university, today announced a dual admission transfer articulation agreement which allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree entirely online after completing an associate's degree.

Once a student completes at least 40 semester credits through one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges, he or she can begin earning upper division credits through Capella’s bachelor-completion program. The agreement aims to make the transition from a two to four year degree program more convenient for students. Additionally, the partnership ensures that associate degree graduates are accepted to Capella University as juniors, with all credits transferring as a block. “This is just one of the many ways the Maricopa Community Colleges are working to support our students with opportunities for growth,” according to Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor, Dr. Fred Gaskin. “It is through partnerships like this one, that we are able to instill the desire and ability for lifelong learning and success.”

The articulation agreement is a direct result of the two institutions’ reputations as innovators in education. Capella University has been a pioneer in online degree education and now offers
over 500 courses and 80 degree programs and specializations. A League for Innovation in the Community College Board Member, Maricopa Community College District offers more than 8,000 credit courses.

“Online learning lets busy people make quality education a part of their lives,” notes Dr. Michael Offerman, president of Capella University. “And since we operate completely online, we are able to reach learners throughout the country.”

While articulation agreements between community colleges and universities are relatively common, the Capella University/Maricopa agreement is innovative in that the institutions do not have an overlap in program offerings. As a part of the agreement, Capella University also announced that it will award ten $5,000 scholarships—one per community college—to Maricopa Community College students and alumni that enroll in Capella University’s Bachelor degree programs.

“The fact that we won’t be competing for students is very significant,” Offerman said. “By entering into this agreement, we’ve created an arrangement where both institutions have a vested interest in seeing a student complete the other’s curriculum. The end result, we believe, will be a better academic experience for our learners.”

The Maricopa County Community College District, is one of the largest community college districts in the nation. It includes 10 colleges - Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, GateWay Community College, Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale Community College and South Mountain Community College. The District also includes the Maricopa Skill Center, Southwest Skill Center, several satellite campuses and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves over 250,000 students annually. For more information: 480-731-8000 or www.maricopa.edu.

Capella University (www.capellauniversity.edu), the fastest-growing accredited, online university, offers courses, certificates and degree programs in a variety of subjects, including business, education, human services, psychology and technology. Through its online campus, Capella University teaches more than 3,700 students throughout the United States and in 40 countries. Capella University is affiliated with the for-profit Capella Education Company headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, visit Capella University at www.capellauniversity.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA.

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Contact: Chris Chesrown
Media Relations Manager
Maricopa Community Colleges
480-731-8503
chris.chesrown@domail.maricopa.edu

Greg Bassett
Capella Univeristy
612-278-0474
gbassett@capella.edu

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March 13, 2002