For many families, a key question is whether starting at a community college will slow down a student’s path to a bachelor’s degree. The answer, says CharMaine Hines, Ed.D., Vice Chancellor, Academic Accountability and Policy at Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD), is no.
Students can make a smooth transition and often save time and money in the process.
A clear path to the next degree
At WCCCD, transfer planning begins early. Students can start with short-term certificates, continue into associate degrees and then move seamlessly into bachelor’s programs through the college’s partnerships with Michigan universities.
The Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center, located near Harper Woods, serves as the hub for these partnerships. Through the center, students who complete their first two years at WCCCD and then finish their bachelor’s degree with partner schools such as the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Ferris State University and Grand Valley State University — sometimes without leaving the WCCCD campus.
“Our partners at the University Center say, we’ll work with you,” Hines explains. “We’re offering those classes at Wayne County Community College.”
Credits that move with you
Because of these agreements, students can take university courses right at WCCCD or online through the same partner institutions.
Even for students who start elsewhere or step away from school for a time, community college provides an easy way to continue their education.
“Your earned credit is a fluid commodity and it goes places,” Hines says. “We provide pathways and ramps to take that earned credit and to maximize it so you don’t lose time.”
For parents, this means their student can start at a community college, save on the first two years and still graduate on time — with every credit earned along the way counting toward their goals.
Find out if community college is the right choice for your kid:
- How does starting at community college help build confidence?
- What makes community college a good place for first-generation students?
This content is sponsored by Wayne County Community College District. Learn more about community college for your child at Metro Parent’s Community College Hub.
