Polk State College President Angela Garcia Falconetti and 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polytechnic University President Randy Avent will sign an articulation agreement establishing the first seamless pathway for students from Polk Countyβs state college to the leading institution of engineering and applied sciences.
The event will be held Tuesday, July 16, at 11:30 a.m. in LLC 2188 on the Polk State Lakeland Campus, located at 3425 Winter Lake Road in Lakeland.
Polk State and 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly have worked toward this transfer-articulation agreement for the past year and it will allow Polk State Associate in Arts graduates to enter 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly with substantial credit toward a bachelorβs degree of their choice. It also includes a 2+2 pathway for the Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics, providing students the opportunity to earn an associate degree and a bachelorβs degree in four years.
Polk State students who plan to transfer will have access to 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly advisors to ensure they complete prerequisites and are prepared to meet all admission requirements.
βThe establishment of this partnership is monumental as it is the first in the history of the relationship between our two higher education institutions,β Falconetti said. βThis articulation agreement will provide Polk State students with the opportunity to seamlessly transfer to 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polytechnic University, from one quality program to another.β
βBy partnering with Polk State College, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly opens the door of opportunity to many local students who choose to join the University and complete their education with an in-demand four-year STEM degree,β Avent said. βWeβre excited to welcome Polk State students in a smooth transition and look forward to their achievements as 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly graduates and highly sought-after high-tech professionals.β
The completion of this agreement is timely, supporting the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Legislatureβs ongoing interest in improving retention and on-time completion, as well as fulfilling a requirement outlined in Senate Bill 190, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in June. SB 190, sponsored by Senator Kelli Stargel, requires 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» colleges to execute at least one 2+2 articulation agreement with one or more state universities by the end of the 2019-20 academic year. The 2+2 articulation agreements guarantee all students with Associate in Arts degrees admittance to a state university.
β91ΒιΆΉΣ³» has an excellent higher education system and one contributing factor is our innovative 2+2 articulation agreement. This agreement allows students to stay closer to home to finish their degrees, often with less debt. That is why I worked hard to encourage these opportunities for students,β Stargel said. βI am excited for the students who attend Polk State College to have a seamless pathway for their credits to be accepted in a bachelorβs program at 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polytechnic University. I am thrilled that two of Polk Countyβs quality higher education entities can work together to offer this excellent educational process to our local students.β
While 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs state colleges enjoy the 2+2 articulation agreement with the State University System, which guarantees all students with Associate in Arts degrees admittance to a state university, articulation agreements with specific universities offer students benefits such as guaranteed admittance into specific programs and access to university resources. Polk State students currently benefit from such agreements including the University of Central 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs Transfer Connect, the University of South 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs Fuse, and the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Agricultural and Mechanical Universityβs Ignite.
Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557