“Market research has shown that our growing population includes many learners who are place-bound by careers, family, financial or other constraints. Once they complete their two-year program, they don’t have convenient access to advanced degrees,” says Johns. “By partnering with St. Cloud State University, we will deliver that access.”

How it works
ARCC refers to this arrangement as the “higher education portal” concept. According to Johns, the concept means students can come to ARCC, complete their first two years, and continue to achieve their education goals by remaining on an ARCC campus to complete the advanced degree of their choice. Therefore, ARCC serves as the bridge for students to cross seamlessly to advance their education.

The “portal” responds to students’ needs beyond two-year college degree requirements. It provides an onsite, convenient pathway for students who choose to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The seamless services of the portal mean that students will register, receive financial aid services, receive advising services, and take courses at an ARCC campus in Cambridge or Coon Rapids. SCSU faculty will teach the courses at ARCC and degrees will be awarded by SCSU.

“Portal” courses are scheduled to begin at the Coon Rapids Campus of ARCC in Fall Semester 2005. As the program expands, the goal is to offer courses on both ARCC campuses. The selection of degree programs will be based on community needs. Some of the specific academic degree programs being considered are teacher education in special ed, elective studies, and gerontology.

A similar, collaborative program is already being offered by SCSU and the Cambridge Campus of ARCC. It’s the Teacher Preparation Partnership - a bachelor-degree program in education that allows students to be simultaneously enrolled at SCSU and ARCC. Courses are held at the North Branch Public School Campus yet taught by faculty from both colleges. The program was designed to train people to become teachers who already live in the community.

The purpose
According to United States Censes data from 2000, several of the counties served by ARCC have a lower than state average per capita income. Additionally, there are fewer people with bachelor’s or master’s degrees in these same counties compared to the rest of the state.

“It’s clear that advanced educational opportunities are a crucial need in East Central Minnesota and the northern metro counties (areas served by ARCC),” says ARCC Vice President of Educational Services Susan Tarnowski. “Through the higher education portal, we hope to provide increased educational access so residents can increase their earning power as the service area grows and workforce needs change.”

“St. Cloud State is a logical portal partner,” says Susan Tarnowski, “because ARCC has a history of collaborative programs with SCSU via our teacher education cohorts, our Community College Connections program at the SCSU campus, and the courses ARCC provides for SCSU’s Division of General Studies.”

In addition to SCSU, ARCC is pursuing advanced degree portal partnerships with other institutions such as Metropolitan State University, with whom the college already partners to offer Business Online and nursing baccalaureate programs.

For more information on advanced degree programs available at Anoka-Ramsey Community College beginning in Fall 2005, please contact Susan Tarnowski at 763-422-3437.

ABOUT ANOKA-RAMSEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Anoka-Ramsey Community College, with campuses in Cambridge and Coon Rapids, has been a leading provider of higher education and training in East Central Minnesota since 1978 and the north suburban area of Minneapolis/St. Paul since 1965. Annually, the college serves more than 9,000 learners of all ages as they pursue associate degrees that transfer as the first two years of a bachelor's degree, or certificate programs that lead immediately to rewarding careers. ARCC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.

SCSU is located 70 miles northwest of the Twin Cities along the banks of the Mississippi River. The university offers 15,500 students 175 majors, minors and pre-professional programs in Business, Education, Fine Arts & Humanities, Science & Engineering, and Social Sciences, and 50 master’s degrees through its School of Graduate Studies.