WPCC partners with App State co-admission program
April 7, 2021 – Guaranteed admission to Appalachian State University is now possible for Western Piedmont Community College students thanks to a new partnership program, Aspire Appalachian.
ASU Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management Cindy Barr, ASU Chancellor Sheri Everts and WPCC President Joel Welch prepare to sign the MOU.
As a co-admission program, Aspire Appalachian provides a simplified pathway for students to transfer from WPCC and complete their degree at ASU. The program will provide guaranteed admission to the university as well as coordinated financial aid programs and other programming and resources to help students in the transfer process.
ASU Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management Cindy Barr, ASU Chancellor Sheri Everts and WPCC President Joel Welch prepare to sign the MOU.
“We are very excited to partner with Appalachian State University to provide guaranteed admission for our students,” Joel Welch, president of WPCC, said. “It is especially important during these challenging times that students have opportunities to continue their education. We appreciate our partnership with ASU and their commitment to work with us and support our students’ success.”
Each student admitted into the Aspire Appalachian program will be connected with an ASU transfer advisor. The advisor will meet with the student each semester prior to WPCC’s advising and registration period, and they will also be available for additional meetings throughout the year. ASU advisors will help students as they plan their transfer process from the college.
“The Aspire Appalachian program will help students who know they want to attend Appalachian State University early in their time at WPCC to have a seamless transition to the university,” Rhia Crawford, WPCC vice president for Academic Affairs, said. “Students in the program will be advised by both WPCC and ASU staff to ensure they are on the correct pathway to complete their degrees. Aspire Appalachian students will also be involved in activities at ASU, which will help them acclimate to the campus before they transfer.”
WPCC President Joel Welch signs an agreement for the Aspire Appalachian Co-admission Program.
Welch and Crawford visited the ASU campus April 6 for a signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding.
“This program solidifies a tradition of partnership and collaboration between our institutions while establishing robust, supportive pathways for future Mountaineers who begin their academic careers as Western Piedmont students,” said Cindy Barr, associate vice chancellor of Enrollment Management at ASU.
WPCC students may apply if they have completed or are currently taking the ACA 122 course, have at least two semesters remaining at the college, and are on track to complete a two-year associate degree eligible for the transfer program.
To be eligible for Aspire Appalachian, students must complete their associate degree within three years of acceptance into the program. While at WPCC, they must also take a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester and maintain a GPA of 2.25 or higher.
Appalachian State University Chancellor Sheri Everts signs an agreement for the Aspire Appalachian Co-admission Program
WPCC is one of six North Carolina community colleges participating in Aspire Appalachian.
More information about Aspire Appalachian and the application form can be found at transfer.appstate.edu/aspire and wpcc.edu/aspire-appalachian.