On Friday, Feb. 21, Merced College Superintendent/President Chris Vitelli and Stan State President Ellen Junn will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create a clear path of transfer for Merced College students to earn undergraduate degrees at Stanislaus State.
The formal signing will take place at Merced College at 1 p.m. at the amphitheater adjacent to the administration building. Parking will be available in Lot 7.
The MOU promotes Merced College’s associate degrees for transfer (ADTs) through the “Warriors on the Way” (WOW) program and symbolizes a renewal of the institutions’ commitment to work together to smooth the transfer process for students.
“Merced College students already make up a significant number of Stan State’s transfer population,” Junn said. “That population is expected to grow and we anticipate further significant growth with this MOU. The ease with which Blue Devils become Warriors represents an important pathway to higher education throughout the region, and this agreement will make that pathway even easier to follow.”
“Warriors on the Way provides the wraparound services and clear pathways students need to efficiently move through transfer pathways and achieve their academic goal,” Vitelli said. “This partnership is an exciting development for Merced College and its students.”
The goal of the MOU is to attract qualified Merced College transfer students to Stanislaus State, to facilitate an efficient transition for those students and to increase the number of Merced College students who complete an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT).
As part of this agreement, Merced College students who complete their ADT in a similar major as offered at Stanislaus State and meet all of Stan State’s application deadlines will be guaranteed priority admission. The MOU also calls for new investments in staffing and resources that will lead to additional academic coordination and faculty and student engagement between the two colleges.
In addition, Stanislaus State will provide a WOW counselor or advisor to be placed on the Merced College campus for up to 32 hours per week for the purpose of making certain students seeking to transfer through the WOW program have access to necessary information and tools.