Wright State, Southern State agree to student connector program

Southern State President Community College Kevin Boys, left, and Wright State President David R. Hopkins signing the agreement providing a path to Wright State bachelor’s degree programs for Southern State students. (Photo by Erin Pence)

Wright State University and Southern State Community College in Hillsboro, Ohio, have signed an agreement that will enhance access to bachelor’s degree programs at Wright State for Southern State students.

The Memorandum of Agreement Connector Program was signed at Wright State on May 2 by Wright State President David R. Hopkins and Southern State President Kevin Boys.

“We’re happy to make this partnership work, and I’m sure it will be very effective,” said Hopkins.

The agreement is designed to provide a path to bachelor’s degree programs for students in southwest Ohio.

It 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.

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

“All of the community colleges are engaged in this guided-pathway work,” said Boys. “The sooner we can make those pathways known to students, the better. This is all happening at a great time. It’s exciting.”

To enter the program, students must declare the intention to enroll at Wright State following completion of a specified program of study at Southern State and complete a minimum of 30 semester hours. The students must also maintain satisfactory academic progress at Southern State to stay in the program.

Students who wish to strengthen their academic records and return to Wright State may also participate in the program. They must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours and earn a 2.25 cumulative GPA at Southern State, including all of the developmental courses required at Southern State.

In addition to joint advising, students in the program will be able to use identified Wright State facilities, have the undergraduate Wright State application fee waived, gain admission to non-ticketed athletic and cultural events, be permitted to participate or attend select student activities, apply to live on campus and for residential students have access to student parking with the purchase of a permit.

Wright State has similar agreements with Clark State Community College, Sinclair Community College, Edison State Community College and Cincinnati State.