UMaine removes barriers for EMCC students transferring to four-year degrees

Photo / University of Maine Eastern Maine Community College President Lisa Larson, left, and University of Maine President Susan Hunter celebrate the signing of an agreement that allows EMCC students in designated programs to easily transfer credits toward a bachelor's degree at UMaine's flagship campus.

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By Staff

Eastern Maine Community College and the University of Maine signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday that allows EMCC students in designated programs to easily transfer credits toward a bachelor’s degree at Maine’s flagship campus.

The memorandum is intended to streamline admission opportunities for academically qualified students and graduates of EMCC, facilitate student academic transfer and create a smooth transition for students transferring from EMCC to the University of Maine. It was signed by EMCC President Lisa Larson, UMaine President Susan Hunter, EMCC Vice President of Academic Affairs Liz Russell and UMaine Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jeffrey Hecker.

Program-specific articulation agreements signed on Wednesday included transfers involving the associate’s degree in liberal studies, electrical and automation technology and civil engineering technology to the appropriate bachelor degree programs at UMaine.

“We have a strong tradition of successful transfer students from EMCC and this agreement supports both institutions' desires to formalize and expand many of the informal pathways that already exist,” said Sharon Oliver, director of transfer admission at UMaine. “Those of us who have been working on them believe they will be good for Maine students and hopefully increase prospective students' interest in both our institutions” stated

Russell said the formalized agreements will provide EMMC graduates with clear educational pathways.

“This benefits not only our students and graduates but also our institutions and the state of Maine,” she said. “We look forward to establishing many more agreements with the university.

EMCC is a two-year college with a Bangor campus and three off-campus higher education centers in Dover-Foxcroft, Ellsworth, and East Millinocket.