JWCC and WIU to formalize Ag articulation agreement
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
David Camphouse/Pike Press/Scott County Times
Western Illinois University (WIU) and John Wood Community College (JWCC) will sign an agricultural articulation agreement on Friday with both college presidents in attendance. The agreement will be formalized with a ceremony to take place at the Fred L. Bradshaw Learning Center at the JWCC Orr Agriculture Education Center outside Perry. The Fred L. Bradshaw Learning Center was dedicated in August by local officials, JWCC representatives, University of Illinois representatives, Orr Corporation representatives, donors, and members of the Bradshaw family. Left to right: State Representative Chris Miller, U.S. Representative Mary Miller, State Senator Jil Tracy, County Extension Director Shelby Crow, State Representative CD Davidsmeyer, Orr Corporation Board Vice-President Lynn Curry, Compeer Financial Chief Core Markets Officer Matt Ginder, JWCC President Mike Elbe, Neal Merchant, University of Illinois College of ACES Interim Dean Dr. German Bollero, Cody Bradshaw, Jeff Bradshaw, Wesley Bradshaw, Eric Bradshaw, Carole Bradshaw, Jane Bradshaw, Orr Corporation Board President Matt Bradshaw, Lori Bradshaw, Kyle Bradshaw, FSB’s Jill Moss, JWCC Agriculture Department Chair Mike Tenhouse, and JWCC Trustee Larry Fischer. The learning center was built to enhance educational opportunities for JWCC Agriculture students, and the facility includes an exhibition hall, an animal care wing, as well as classroom and office space.
Western Illinois University (WIU) and John Wood Community College (JWCC) will sign an agricultural articulation agreement on Friday with both college presidents in attendance.
The agreement will be formalized with a ceremony to take place at the Fred L. Bradshaw Learning Center at the JWCC Orr Agriculture Education Center outside Perry.
According to JWCC Agriculture Department Faculty Chair Mike Tenhouse, the agreement to be formalized on Friday will help students attain a Bachelor’s Degree from WIU within four years, even if they start their degrees at JWCC.
“Having the agreement in place will ensure an easier transfer,” Tenhouse said.
Tenhouse said that JWCC’s Agriculture Department has long had a good working relationship with the Agriculture Department at WIU, but the new agreement would codify a JWCC student’s ability to finish a WIU Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture in four years.
“For a long time, we’ve had sort of a gentleman’s agreement,” Tenhouse said. “This agreement will put it all on paper, and it puts more on the student as far as what coursework they need to do. It’s a little more than just our applied science degree.”
Articulation agreements document a pathway between two or more colleges or universities and their academic programs. Colleges and universities publish articulation agreements after reviewing the curriculum and the level of instruction. The agreements simplify the complexity of determining what courses to take. They focus on a specific area of study and help students who complete two years of college before attending the four-year program. Transfer agreements are guidelines that highlight an acknowledgement and partnership between schools that is worth following to avoid the often-costly process of credit transfer.
JWCC’s Agriculture Department has had a longstanding articulation agreement with the Agriculture Department at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale.
Tenhouse also said that JWCC’s Agriculture Department is working with Jacksonville’s Illinois College (IC) to develop an articulation agreement toward a more seamless transfer process From JWCC to IC.
