NWACC, UA Announce Business Transfer Degree

Chancellor G. David Gearhart speaks at NWACC during announcement of new degree program.

Dozens of people came to NWACC to hear about the new program.

Moez Limayem, chair of the UA department of information systems, speaks.

Becky Paneitz, David Gearhart and Coleman Peterson approve the program.

Photo Submitted

Becky Paneitz, president of NorthWest Arkansas Community College; G. David Gearhart, chancellor of the University of Arkansas; and Coleman Peterson, chairman of the NWACC Board of Trustees, sign documents creating a computer information systems degree program that uses coursework from both NWACC and the University of Arkansas.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College and the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas announced a new business transfer degree plan in computer information systems Monday. This transfer degree plan is known as the “Associate of Science degree, Walton College Transfer, ISYS Option.”

Tim Cornelius, NWACC dean and associate vice president of global business and computer information systems, said, “The job market for people with a degree and skills in computer information remains strong and this track will prepare highly qualified students to fill the needs of various companies in our region.”

According to Cornelius, NWACC graduates of this plan can transfer up to 68 credit hours to the Walton College Information Systems program. These students can complete the remaining 61 credit hours of course work at the Walton College to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

“We are excited to expand our collaborative partnership with the University of Arkansas to include a transfer agreement for students majoring in Computer Information Systems. This agreement means that hundreds of our students will now have the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree from the university’s prestigious Walton College of Business,” said Dr. Becky Paneitz, NWACC president.

“Helping these students achieve their educational goals will also support Governor Beebe’s goal to increase the number of Arkansans with a bachelor’s degree. That’s good news for our students, and that’s good news for Arkansas!”

University of Arkansas chancellor G. David Gearhart described the agreement as an example of institutions working together to help Arkansas students and the state.

“I am an advocate for anything we can do to streamline the transfer process and assist in making transfer students more successful. The University of Arkansas needs to strengthen its relationship with our two-year institutions so we can work together to reduce administrative red tape and other road blocks to our students’ success. Too often, time and money are wasted in the form of credit hours that don’t transfer, and students that are hard-pressed to make ends meet aren’t being done any favors by this. This program is another step in the right direction.”

The two institutions already have a previous transfer degree plan in place that primarily consists of business courses. The new degree plan is a modification of the existing plan in that it will allow students to take both business and information systems courses as part of the degree.

“This new collaboration with NWACC will allow an additional pool of excellent students to seamlessly transfer into our internationally acclaimed Information Systems Department,” said Dan Worrell, dean of the Walton College. We see this partnership as a win for NWACC, a win for the University of Arkansas and the Walton College, and most importantly as a win for the students.”