The Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) at UC Riverside and Norco College will sign a memorandum of understanding March 13 that smooths the pathway for transfer students in engineering. The agreement ensures students will arrive at UC Riverside well prepared to enter the third year of an engineering major, and that their Norco College course credits are transferred.
“This is a great pathway opportunity for engineering students,” said Monica Green, interim president at Norco College. “It is our mission to keep our students engaged, connected and focused, and creating these pathways help our students succeed.”
Norco College will offer coursework required for the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) for bachelor’s degrees in bioengineering, chemical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, materials science and engineering, and mechanical engineering. The courses will meet specific major preparation requirements, allowing full-time students to complete a degree in two years.
“They are essentially UCR students taking classes via Norco College, saving both time and money,” said Jason Parks, dean of Instruction at Norco College.
BCOE will honor the course and GPA requirements in place at the time a student is admitted to Norco College and guarantees transfer admission to students who complete the transfer admission guarantee requirements in their declared major within three years.
“This partnership is a major step in helping students navigate the transition to a four-year institution,” said Marko Princevac, BCOE associate dean for undergraduate affairs. “These types of transfer programs allow students to focus on the goal of earning their degrees and we’re proud to be a part of the solution that helps meet the demand for qualified engineers in today’s society.”
This agreement will help Norco College advance a broader goal of expanding access and equity. Creating a clear guided pathway to completion removes artificial barriers many students find difficult to navigate, particularly students from disadvantaged and under-represented minorities in higher education.
The agreement also improves communication between the institutions regarding transfer requirements each year and ensures successful and timely student transfers.
An official signing ceremony is scheduled for March 13, 2020 at 4 p.m. at Norco College in the Center for Student Success, room 217. The event is free and open to the community.