A new agreement between Kent State’s Stark campus and the Stark State College of Technology will allow business students to take courses at both schools.

After the Educational Policies Council approved the proposed articulation agreement, it was then given a second approval at the Faculty Senate meeting July 18. An articulation agreement details the terms in which both colleges will accept each other’s courses.

“The agreement will help take Stark State students and move them into academic degrees,” said Betsy Boze, dean of Kent State Stark. “It will help move students who have a technical business degree (an Associate of Applied Business) and get them into the Bachelor of Business Administration program.”

The 2+2 degree program will help to provide greater opportunities for area residents to pursue their goals of higher education, Boze said. All the required courses to complete the program will be offered at either Kent State’s Stark campus or Stark State College.

“Seventy-one semester hours are to be completed at Stark State and 12 additional hours of general education classes can be completed at either Kent State or Stark State,” said John O’Donnell, president of Stark State College of Technology. “The remaining 42 credit hours to receive a bachelor’s degree must be taken at Kent State University.”

Students must earn a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average from Stark State to be admitted to the pre-business management major at Kent State Stark.

A similar agreement was also reached between the two schools in July 2005. A joint Associate of Arts and general studies degree was developed after discussions between O’Donnell and Kent State’s former president Carol Cartwright. The Ohio Board of Regents passed the joint degree.

O’Donnell said the degree is primarily for incoming freshmen or students who are unsure of their major and have not applied their credits to any certain degree.

“We’re very happy to see these agreements between Stark State and Kent State Stark,” O’Donnell said. “I consider this positive relationship to be essential to the economical and social development of Stark County.”

The two colleges are trying to cater to working adults by combining forces to increase the degree completion options while also giving them the benefit of a low-cost education.

Kent State Stark offers 11 bachelor’s and two master’s programs, including a new master’s in education.

“Kent State Stark is doing a wonderful job in developing the bachelor’s and master’s degrees needed by the citizens of Stark County,” O’Donnell said.

Contact regional campuses and international affairs reporter Alaina Robbins at [email protected].