PCC, UA Announce New Early Childhood Education Degree Completion Program
May 5, 2010
Tucson, AZ – Pima Community College (PCC) and the University of Arizona (UA) College of Education are partners in a new program to increase the number of PCC students who obtain baccalaureate degrees in early childhood education at UA.
PCC Chancellor Dr. Roy Flores and UA Provost Meredith Hay will participate in a signing ceremony establishing the Early Childhood Education Pathway Agreement Thursday, May 6, at 12:15 p.m. in the First Things First External Evaluation Center, 1501 E. Speedway Blvd. Parking for the event, at the northeast corner of East Speedway Boulevard and North Vine Avenue, is free.
Under the agreement, students who earn an associate of arts degree in early childhood education (ECE) from Pima, and who meet grade-point and other requirements, will be given priority status when they apply to the UA College of Education early childhood education bachelor’s degree program. They also will be guaranteed enrollment in the required courses for the major.
Earning an associate of arts degree from PCC also satisfies the requirements for the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC), ensuring that non-ECE courses will transfer to UA, and further streamlining the path to a bachelor’s degree.
Completion of the UA program also will result in a bachelor’s degree with state certification, enabling students to teach from birth through grade 3 in Arizona schools.
PCC and UA have a long history of developing collaborations and partnerships to support transfer student success. These efforts are greater than ever as the need for educated workers in the state increases. Goals include encouraging PCC students to earn an associate’s degree before transferring, making students aware of financial-aid opportunities and requirements, and increasing collection and sharing of data.
As part of the partnership and through funding from the First Things First Central Regional Council, PCC and UA hope to enrich classroom learning through reciprocal mentoring. Most PCC students have professional field experience, which they can share with UA students, who can share their experiences of attending a large four-year university.
“We continue to strengthen our relationship with the University of Arizona to ensure that residents of Pima County have additional streamlined paths to baccalaureate degrees,” says Dr. Flores. “This agreement complements existing articulation initiatives and adds to our list of transfer opportunities.”
CONTACT:
A. Rachelle Howell, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing,
(520) 206-4850