FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Courtney Davis
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Prince George’s Community College
daviscl@pgcc.edu
Prince George’s Community College Joins Maryland Education Alliance to Open Statewide Pathways for Student Success
Collective boosts opportunities for seamless transfer of specialized academic programs
LARGO, Md. (April 13, 2021) – Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) announced today that it has joined five other Maryland community colleges to form the Maryland Education Alliance (MEA), an innovative collaboration designed to boost opportunities for students to earn associate degrees and certificates statewide.
The MEA creates seamless pathways for community colleges to share resources and expertise, meet growing needs of the community, and generate cost savings, which grants students increased access to affordable programs in some of the fastest-growing career fields. The alliance eliminates the need for highly specialized, costly, and sometimes low-enrolled programs at multiple locations.
In addition to Prince George’s Community College, the MEA includes Anne Arundel Community College, Cecil College, Chesapeake College, College of Southern Maryland, and Harford Community College. Together, the six community colleges serve nine counties of eastern, southern, and central Maryland.
“Prince George’s Community College is excited to join the initial cohort of the Maryland Education Alliance,” said Dr. Clayton Railey, executive vice president and provost of Teaching, Learning, and Student Success at the College. “Opportunities for our students to gain increased access to relevant programs that put them on a direct path to their career of choice have the potential to improve significantly student outcomes. This partnership is a prime example of collaborating to achieve a common goal.”
Through the MEA agreement, students complete initial coursework at their home institution, such as general studies, before transferring to the receiving community college for specialized discipline coursework. For health care programs, the home college will develop agreements for students to complete their clinical requirements at a local health care facility.
For instance, Prince George’s Community College’s Radiography and Respiratory Therapy program offers an opportunity for College of Southern Maryland (CSM) students to transfer and pay PGCC’s in-county tuition rate. The agreement builds on a 30-year model that provides exchange opportunities for community college students. Recently, the six colleges in the MEA finalized an agreement for PGCC’s Respiratory Therapy program.
The MEA will expand partnerships like these statewide. Students can also take advantage of articulation agreements between MEA community colleges and four-year institutions. Participating community colleges, which serve as the MEA governing body, will meet annually to discuss concerns, maintain smooth transitions, and facilitate communication. As the MEA expands academic program opportunities, other Maryland community colleges can join the alliance to benefit their students, as individual institutions choose which programs to offer.
With the creation of an umbrella agreement providing the collaboration parameters, each academic program shared under the MEA is considered a specific articulation agreement between the institutions. These new collaborations will have a signed addendum by participating institutions, allowing flexibility related to each program’s curriculum requirements.
The resource-sharing of the MEA’s “students first” alliance builds clear pathways to rapidly expand opportunities for residents in Maryland and across the region to further their education to fill the jobs of today and tomorrow.
About Prince George’s Community College
Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (2015-2020), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides high-quality education and training for the progressive and career-oriented residents of Prince George’s County. From new high school graduates and career seekers to more seasoned professionals and senior citizens looking to enhance their skillsets, PGCC is comprised of students who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and goals. Serving nearly 35,000 individuals annually, the College is the first choice for higher education for residents of Prince George’s County. Collaborative partnerships, responsive degree and training programs, and a commitment to student success enables PGCC to address diverse education and workforce development demands.
For more information, visit the College website at www.pgcc.edu. Prince George’s Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267-284-5000); www.msche.org. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
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