UWM President Mark Mohn (center) and leaders of four area technical colleges signed an agreement Tuesday to smooth the path for technical college graduates to attend the university. From left: MATC President Vicki Martin, WCTC President Richard Barnhouse, Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald, and Gateway President Ritu Raju. (UWM Photo/Troy Fox)
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has signed new agreements with four area technical schools to guarantee graduate admission and make transferring credits to UWM an easy and stress-free process. It's one of the latest ways UWM continues to reduce barriers for students to attend college and give them access to a life-changing education.
The agreement is with Milwaukee Regional Technical College, Waukesha County Technical College, Moraine Park Technical College, and Gateway Technical College. All associate degree recipients from all four colleges are guaranteed a seamless transfer of at least 60 credits toward a bachelor's degree at UWM. Interested students do not need to complete a lengthy formal application for admission; they can simply complete a simple Intent Form for free.
“We believe education should be available to everyone,” said UWM Board President Mark Mohn. “Our goal is to ensure that every student who earns an associate degree at one of our partner schools has the opportunity to continue their educational journey at UWM. This reaffirms our commitment to providing a clear pathway to a bachelor's degree.”
While UWM has had transfer pathways in place with many professional schools over the years, these new agreements provide the most direct path for associate degree holders to earn a UWM bachelor's degree. Starting in summer 2024, students who earn an associate's degree from one of the participating technical schools and earn a grade point average of 2.0 or higher will be guaranteed admission to her UWM as a bachelor's degree-seeking student. Some of her UWM degree programs have additional admission requirements.
“Our transfer degree programs, including the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees, are among the most popular programs offered at Milwaukee Regional Technical College,” said MATC President Vicki Martin. . “As the largest source of transfer students to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, MATC is working with our colleagues at our sister technical schools to simplify this transfer process and increase the number of credits granted, while also supporting the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students. We are proud to strengthen our ability to expand transfer options for ” career-oriented associates in the Applied Science program. ”
personalized plan
UWM admissions counselors meet with interested students and develop an individualized plan for guaranteed 60-credit transfer. He begins his commitment to UWM knowing that most associate's degree holders are already halfway through graduation, since UWM requires a minimum of 120 credits for a bachelor's degree. This eliminates the worry that credits earned at a previous university may be wasted.
“We are excited about our new partnership with UWM and proud to be recognized alongside our technical college colleagues,” said Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald. “We intentionally built our degree programs to give students the option to progress from certificate to diploma to associate degree. Our partnership with UWM allows students to take another step on that path. , provides an accessible and affordable opportunity to enroll in UWM's bachelor's degree program with guaranteed junior status.”
In fall 2023, UWM accepted 260 new transfer students from four institutions, and that number is expected to increase with these new agreements. Additionally, students who transfer to her UWM with an associate's degree are more likely to graduate with a bachelor's degree. By fall 2023, more than two-thirds of her associate degree graduates who transferred to UWM four years ago would have graduated with bachelor's degrees. This is a strong indicator of the persistence of associate degree students and their potential for growth within UWM's bachelor's degree program.
“UWM is a long-standing partner of WCTC and our alumni,” said WCTC President Richard Barnhouse. “As we all work towards the integration of higher education in Wisconsin, this new agreement opens a new path for WCTC graduates to earn a four-year credential.”
82% of graduates remain in Wisconsin
UWM remains committed to student success, and a bachelor's degree from UWM has a direct impact on Wisconsin's workforce. Over the past 10 years, 82% of UWM graduates have remained in Wisconsin, living, working and becoming part of the community.
“Gateway is focused on creating as many academic and career paths as possible for our students,” said Gateway President Ritu Raju. “This agreement with UW-Milwaukee provides another viable transfer option for associate degree students who can live and work in our area while furthering their education. We are excited to partner with them to expand options for Gateway students.”
This announcement comes as part of UWM's Access to Success week, in addition to announcements later this week marking the third anniversary of the M3 (pronounced M-Cubed) partnership with UWM's Moon Shot for Equity. About new efforts to streamline college admissions.
Prospective students can fill out an intent form and find more information online.
