Special to IFN
Mitchell Community College has partnered with Appalachian State University’s Aspire Appalachian program, which provides a streamlined path for students enrolled in community colleges to complete their bachelor’s degrees at App State.
The Aspire Appalachian program is designed to ease the transition for transfer students, boost degree completion rates and minimize student loan debt.
Mitchell Community College officials participated in a signing ceremony for the partnership on Friday, September 6, at App State’s Hickory campus.
“Mitchell Community College has a long-standing, working partnership with Appalachian State University. The Aspire Appalachian program is a continuation of that partnership,” said Dr. Tim Brewer, president of Mitchell Community College. “We are proud of this relationship and the opportunities that Aspire Appalachian will bring to students in this region while also continuing our shared efforts to ensure student success.”
As of this summer, App State has secured new and renewed Aspire agreements with 27 North Carolina community colleges, tripling the number of institutions participating in the program.
“We are proud to partner with Mitchell Community College to help North Carolinians realize the immense potential that can be reached when two- and four-year institutions collaborate to support students who are willing to work hard to achieve a college education,” said Dr. Neva Specht, acting provost of App State. “Together, we are working to meet workforce demand, and contributing to the economic health and wellbeing of our state and region.”
Aspire Appalachian — benefits, eligibility and how to participate
Students involved in the Aspire Appalachian program gain access to numerous benefits, including:
● Guaranteed admission to App State;
● Dedicated academic advising assistance from both their community college and App State;
● Admission counseling for assistance through the entire App State admissions process;
● Financial aid advising and planning, to help students maximize their aid and minimize their college debt;
● Priority consideration for a select number of Appalachian Excellence Scholarships (available to students who have completed summer or fall admission applications by February 1); and
● Invitations to special webinars, events and newsletters designed to help students successfully transfer to and succeed at App State.
Those students who are continuously enrolled at Mitchell Community College and are on track to complete an approved two-year associate degree program are eligible to participate in the Aspire program. Students should graduate from their associate degree program with a grade-point average of 2.25 or higher.
To participate in the program, students need to complete the Aspire Appalachian intent form for their respective school. The intent forms are available on the Aspire Appalachian webpage at aspire.appstate.edu. Once they submit their intent form, students will be contacted by their assigned App State admissions counselor, who will assist them throughout the admissions process. Students accepted into the Aspire program will begin their application for admission to App State one semester prior to finishing their associate degree.
Students who are interested in transferring to App State through the Aspire Appalachian program should speak with their college’s Aspire contact and/or their App State transfer admissions counselor; both contacts are listed on the Aspire Appalachian webpage.
App State’s strong support of its transfer student population has earned the university the reputation of being one of the most transfer-friendly schools in the nation. For eight consecutive years, App State has been named to Phi Theta Kappa’s Transfer Honor Roll, which recognizes four-year colleges and universities across the country for developing dynamic and innovative pathways that lead to success among community college transfer students.