New Help to Transform NH Associate Degrees To Bachelor Degrees

College students have a new, streamlined way to start at a community college and then transfer to earn a bachelor's degree, thanks to a new type of block-transfer agreement between all seven of NH's community colleges and Granite State College, which is part of the University System of New Hampshire. 

While the transfer of credits from community colleges to baccalaureate institutions has expanded in recent years, most require careful course selection and planning to determine what courses will transfer into particular baccalaureate majors. The new block-transfer agreement reached between the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) and Granite State College (GSC) simplifies the process by transferring associate degree courses taken at the community college as a "block" to Granite State College's Fast Track Program. 

The Fast Track Program allows students with associate degrees to complete their bachelor's degrees in 18 months at selected community colleges or online. Fast Track offers 15 courses on a predictable schedule over the course of six terms.

This new pathway continues the work in recent years to ease and streamline the transfer process for students, said Dr. Charles Annal, vice chancellor of CCSNH. This agreement... does not require specific matching of course equivalencies between the colleges, and reduces the chance that some courses may not be accepted into the receiving institution. Under this new agreement, once a student has made the initial choice of programs, the rest falls into place. 

To be accepted into the program, students must have earned a 2.0 grade point average at their community college. Advisors at both the community college and Granite State College will then help applicants understand what paperwork is needed to transfer. Fast Track options include the Bachelor of Science in Business Management; the Bachelor of Science in Applied Studies Management; the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management; and the Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Studies English Language Arts Teacher Preparation.

This partnership is representative of GSC's mission to provide accessible, innovative and flexible higher education opportunities for students in New Hampshire and beyond, said Dr. Todd J. Leach, president of Granite State College. Our Fast Track Program was created specifically based upon the needs of New Hampshire students, many of whom are working full- or part-time, raising families and juggling other life commitments. We know students want to secure their career paths in a way that is flexible, affordable and innovative. We are proud to meet those needs.

In the last five years, about 400 NH community college graduates have transferred into Granite State College. Officials at CCSNH and GSCsay they anticipate that more students will take advantage of transfer pathways as the costs of college increases and NH families look for ways to reduce student loan debt. 

The Community College System of NH consists of seven colleges, offering associate degree and certificate programs, professional training and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. The System's colleges are Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth; Lakes Region Community College in Laconia; Manchester Community College; Nashua Community College; NHTI Concord's Community College; River Valley Community College in Claremont and Keene; and White Mountains Community College in Berlin. 

Granite State College has been in business for nearly 40 years and serves more than 3,500 students statewide and beyond annually. GSC has nine campuses across the state, including Manchester, Concord, Portsmouth, Rochester, Claremont, Lebanon, Conway, Littleton and Berlin.