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Ohio Wesleyan Among Liberal Arts Schools Creating New Transfer Pathways for Community College Students

DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University is part of a consortium of independent colleges and universities offering new transfer pathways to help students from community colleges statewide earn their four-year bachelor’s degrees in biology, English, or psychology.

The pathways are the work of the “Ohio Consortium for Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts,” an initiative spearheaded with leadership from The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) and funded with a grant from the Teagle Foundation and Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. The consortium’s mission is to support “accessible, affordable, and flexible higher education for Ohio students.”

A total of 11 community colleges worked with Ohio Wesleyan and 13 other independent four-year colleges to create the streamlined transfer pathways. Now that they exist, the pathways are available to students at most community colleges across the state to enable them to earn maximum transfer credit when they choose to become Bishops.

“We are ready to help students expand their associate degrees into Ohio Wesleyan bachelor’s degrees while they enjoy the experience of living and learning on a vibrant, engaged residential campus,” Provost Karlyn Crowley said. “Whether they want to play varsity athletics, join a fraternity or sorority, participate in marching band, work with faculty mentors on scientific research, or study abroad, they can do it all here – and more.

“Ohio Wesleyan seeks to be a transfer-friendly school,” continued Crowley, Ph.D. “We want any transfer student admitted to OWU to find the process as accessible, clear, and welcoming as possible. This grant has shown us how to make the transfer process even easier for students.”

Ohio Wesleyan also has admission counselors dedicated to working with transfer students and a 2+2 program with Columbus State Community College that includes established pathways in 15 academic areas ranging from accounting to English to psychology.

Learn more about transferring to Ohio Wesleyan at owu.edu/transfer and more about participating in OWU’s new Ohio Consortium pathways in biology, English, and psychology at owu.edu/OhioConsortium.

Learn more about the Ohio Consortium for Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts, including all 11 community colleges and 14 four-year colleges and universities that helped to build them, at www.ofic.org/transfer-pathways.

About CIC

The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of more than 700 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. Founded in 1956, CIC is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

About OFIC

The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC) conducts annual solicitations of companies and foundations to benefit private colleges in the state. OFIC has 33 member institutions and 77,000 students. It solicits financial support from corporate donors that believe strongly in higher education, connecting donors and partners with students in need, positively impacting Ohio’s economic engine. Founded in 1950, OFIC is based in Columbus.

About Ohio Wesleyan

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives” and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “Best Colleges” lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.