Wright State University, Sinclair College renew Double Degree Program

Wright State Provost Thomas Sudkamp, left, and Sinclair College President Steven Johnson shake hands after signing a Memorandum of Agreement renewing the Double Degree Program, which enhances access to bachelor’s degree programs at Wright State for Sinclair students. (Photo by Will Jones)

Wright State University and Sinclair College renewed an agreement that enhances access to bachelor’s degree programs at Wright State for Sinclair students and has already benefited hundreds of them.

The Memorandum of Agreement for the Double Degree Program was signed at Sinclair on Oct. 6 by Wright State Provost Thomas Sudkamp and Sinclair President Steven Johnson.

The program formalizes links between Wright State and Sinclair to provide seamless student movement between the institutions. Goals include improving academic program articulation, promoting degree completion and using resources at both institutions efficiently.

“This is further evidence of the strong partnership we have with Sinclair,” said Sudkamp. “The Double Degree Program gives students an attractive pathway to careers and futures filled with possibilities.”

The agreement comes in the wake of a call by the Ohio Department of Higher Education to increase the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded and the number of bachelor’s degree recipients with at least one year of credit from a community college.

Wright State and Sinclair have a combined enrollment of more than 50,000 students. About 5,000 students transfer annually from Sinclair to other institutions. Between 2012 and 2016, 3,300 students transferred from Sinclair to Wright State, an average of 660 students per year. Additionally, 2,033 students during the same time period were concurrently enrolled at Sinclair and Wright State, making this partnership one of the most impactful educational relationships in Ohio.

“The partnership between Sinclair and Wright State is critical to developing the workforce that our diverse local economy requires both now and in the future,” said Johnson. “The Double Degree Program is a sign that this partnership is working and that both institutions are working to create opportunities for students.”

To enter the Double Degree Program at Sinclair, students must declare the intention to enroll at Wright State following the completion of a specified program of study at Sinclair. Students indicate their interest in participating in the program on Sinclair’s application or to an appropriate Sinclair staff member. Sinclair then notifies Wright State of participants.

Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress at Sinclair and participate in the Double Degree Program at Sinclair for at least one semester to be eligible for the application waiver to Wright State and the Next Step Transfer Scholarship. Upon completion of the Double Degree Program, students will be admitted to Wright State as long as they meet the admissions requirements of the specific program for which they apply.

The program of study at Sinclair ranges from the completion of general education requirements to an associate degree. Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours at Sinclair, including all required developmental coursework and all high school deficiencies. At least 24 hours must be in college-level courses, with a cumulative Sinclair GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students are admitted into their program at Wright State if they have the GPA, course requirement and grades specified by their major.

While in the program, Double Degree students meet with academic advisers at Sinclair and Wright State to ensure that students are taking classes that will transfer to Wright State and can be applied appropriately toward degree requirements.

In addition to joint advising, students in the program are provided the opportunity to use identified Wright State facilities and become part of the Wright State community. Benefits include participation in selected student life activities, admission to non-ticketed athletic and cultural events and the option of living on campus upon acceptance for housing.

Students no longer eligible to continue at Wright State for academic reasons may become Double Degree participants at Sinclair in order to strengthen their academic record and return to Wright State.