DePaul University President A. Gabriel Esteban, Ph.D., left, and Harper College President Kenneth L. Ender, Ph.D., meet in the University Center at Harper College. (Courtesy of Harper College)
A new partnership provides Harper College students with an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree from DePaul University on the community college's campus in Palatine.
DePaul is admitting students in three degree programs: a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media; a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies, Business Administration major; and a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.
The programs will be offered at Harper College's University Center starting in January.
"A growing number of students are working to manage college costs while balancing jobs and family commitments," says Mark Mrozinski, assistant vice president of Workforce and Community Education at Harper. "Having a strong strategic partner in DePaul University gives students a direct pathway to a high-quality degree, in a more convenient and affordable way."
The recently signed agreement is a 2+2 pathway, meaning students will complete about 60 semester credit hours of Harper courses (the associate degree) and the equivalent number of quarter hours of DePaul courses.
The 2+2 pathway makes earning a university degree more accessible. Under the agreement, students complete half of the degree at Harper's much lower tuition rate and the other half of the bachelor's degree at a discounted rate from DePaul, yielding an economical bachelor's degree from a private university. Additional fields of study are under consideration.
Students also will have access to DePaul's admissions, registration and academic advising staff from Harper's campus.
DePaul is a natural partner for Harper's University Center, due to both the number of students who transfer annually to DePaul and the historically strong academic performance by Harper's transfer students.
"Harper students have always been among our top transfer students and this new opportunity builds on the strengths of both Harper and DePaul to offer students easier access to a bachelor's degree," says David Kalsbeek, senior vice president of DePaul's division of Enrollment Management and Marketing.
The University Center at Harper College also includes bachelor's degree programs in general studies and nursing.