RADFORD -- Radford University has signed a statewide guaranteed admission agreement with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) that will promote transfer and ease transition to the university for Virginia community college students.

The guaranteed admission agreement allows community college graduates who complete an associate’s degree with a cumulative grade point average of 2.8 or higher in a transfer-oriented program to transfer to Radford University with junior standing.

“This is something I believe in,” said Radford’s President Penelope W. Kyle, who signed the agreement with Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s community colleges. President Kyle, who began her career teaching at a Virginia community college, saw first-hand the effects of students who transferred to four-year universities but lost credits along the way. “Radford has strong relationships with its local community colleges,” she added. “We’re hoping this will allow us to bring a diverse group of new, mature students to Radford from areas across the state.”

“This agreement with Radford is an important step in our efforts to be an on-ramp to a four-year college degree and to offer a high-quality, affordable option for families seeking access to higher education.  We are proud to work with Radford University and we feel good about the way our partnership will benefit Virginia students and their families across the commonwealth,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s community colleges.

(IN THE PHOTO: RU President Penelope W. Kyle and Virginia Community College System Chancellor Glenn DuBois at the signing ceremony.)

Jacqueline Frank, 27, of Christiansburg, will graduate from New River Community College this spring and was accepted at Radford last week. “The security in completing my associate’s degree in education at New River is that I don’t have to worry about what credits will be accepted at Radford – they all will!  I’m glad other students across Virginia will benefit from this agreement.”

“Radford University has welcomed our graduates for a number of years through an articulation agreement with our college,” says New River Community College President Jack Lewis. “Extending this guaranteed admissions agreement statewide will allow all Virginia students to have the same opportunity.”

To be eligible for guaranteed admission, students must complete a transfer-oriented associate’s degree, must have earned a grade of “C” or better in each community college course applicable to the degree program, and must intend to transfer to Radford.

Students who transfer under the new agreement will be treated the same as native Radford students when it comes to housing, financial aid, scholarships, and other student services.

The guaranteed admission agreement is one of a number of statewide agreements adopted over the past two years with public and private four-year institutions. Additional comprehensive agreements are pending.

Statewide agreements are detailed on the web at http://www.vccs.edu/vccsasr/agreements.htm

The VCCS is comprised of 23 community colleges located on 40 campuses across the Commonwealth. Together, Virginia’s community colleges serve more than a quarter-million credit students each year.