LA PLATA, Md.—The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) and Howard University in Washington, D.C. have partnered to promote successful undergraduate educational experiences for CSM students pursuing bachelor’s degrees at Howard. CSM students who have earned an Associate of Arts, an Associate of Science, an Associate of Science in Engineering or an Associate of Arts in Teaching, and who have maintained a minimum grade point average will be eligible for transfer into Howard. Specific programs may have additional prerequisites and criteria that the student must meet prior to being admitted to Howard.
“This partnership is about access. It is all about ensuring that our students have the opportunity to get the education they deserve. We believe that access is essential for our students,” said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried. “Charles County is blessed to become much more diverse and this articulation will help us to develop a pipeline to Howard for students in our community. Howard University is a great institution. Looking at the “Who’s Who” (of Howard graduates) since 1867 you won’t find a more distinguished university than Howard University.”
Referencing the historic March on Washington of Aug. 28, 1963, Howard Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick told those attending the articulation signing on Aug. 27, “Tomorrow we will celebrate the 50 years since the March on Washington and a lot of times I think we forget that that march was for jobs and employment. That was a key factor in organizing that march. This [articulation agreement] is about employment and jobs and giving our young people opportunity to realize their dream. Our entering class this year at the university has the highest number of transfer students we have ever had.” Frederick added that the transfer students that arrive at Howard are academically well-prepared.
“I’m thrilled you are here because it shows your support,” Gottfried said to Charles County Commissioners Candice Quinn Kelly, Reuben B. Collins II, Debra M. Davis, Esq. and Ken Robinson who attended the signing and congratulated the institutions for the partnership. Gottfried also acknowledged Charles County Economic Development Director Kwasi Holman for his efforts to connect the two institutions. “It was a no-brainer, and I was so excited when he mentioned it. Thank you, Kwasi, for your vision and your willingness to make Charles County even better than it is.”
“We have an obligation to tell this to our commissioners on a regular basis that we are working with the community to make it better. To provide all kinds of options, educational options but also affordability options,” Gottfried said. Citing figures from the National Center for Education Statistics, he said that during the 2011-12 academic year, 71 percent of all undergraduate students nationally needed some form of financial aid and that number is continuing to grow. “The average amount those students are receiving is about $10,800 with only 41 percent receiving Pell Grants,” he added.
“CSM students can attend CSM, receive an excellent education and earn a degree, then transfer to complete their bachelor’s degree. CSM’s growing number of articulations such as today’s with Howard University means that our transfer students can stay on track and be successful doing so at a much more manageable cost for their baccalaureate degrees,” Gottfried said.
“The articulation agreement between Howard University and the College of Southern Maryland will provide students with access and academic attainment of a higher degree in nursing and allied health sciences,” said Dr. Mary H. Hill, DSN, RN, interim dean and professor in Howard’s College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. "Graduates of the various programs will be prepared to enter the workforce and provide patient-centered, interdisciplinary and culturally sensitive care."
“It’s very exciting that over just the course of the summer we were able to put this agreement together,” said Dr. Laura Polk, chair and professor of CSM’s health sciences division, who advised the audience that Howard representatives would be attending the health science orientation the following day to talk with CSM’s approximately 275 health science students. “We’re really excited to announce the articulation to that large group of students and encourage them to finish their associate degrees with us, be able to move into their bachelor program at Howard, and we were talking about then their master’s program in nursing education as we certainly need to grow our own in terms of nurse educators.”
CSM has bachelor degree partnerships with more than 25 universities and colleges and continues to expand its partnerships to provide a seamless transition to local and statewide bachelor degree programs. Students who begin at CSM enjoy significant savings as they pursue higher education, particularly when they ladder their associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree. CSM students transferred successfully, both in-state and out-of-state, to 125 different colleges and universities in 36 states and the District of Columbia in the last year. These opportunities allow students to transfer easily from CSM to the partnering university while saving thousands of dollars on tuition, fees, housing and transportation.
“This is a general agreement bringing the two schools together for the benefit of providing a seamless transfer for CSM’s students. We look forward to working with the Howard University administrators in providing program-to-program transfers in the near future,” said James Spence, CSM’s senior coordinator of transfer services and articulation.
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. Since 1998, the university has produced two Rhodes Scholars, two Truman Scholars, a Marshall Scholar, 30 Fulbright Scholars and 11 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For information on Howard University, call 202-238-2330, or visit http://www.howard.edu.
For information on CSM’s transfer opportunities, upcoming transfer road trips, transfer requirements or application deadlines, visit http://www.csmd.edu/TransferServices/. Additionally, students can meet representatives from higher education institutions at the Transfer Fair, 12-2 p.m., Sept. 16 at the Prince Frederick Campus, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sept. 17 at the Leonardtown Campus or 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sept. 19 at the La Plata Campus. For information, contact Spence at 301-934-7574.