Ferris State University and West Shore Community College have signed a partnership
agreement enabling students who start their education at WSCC, with the intent to
transfer to Ferris, to hold a distinctive status with the university from the beginning.
The agreement, set to begin the fall semester of the 2019-20 academic year, was signed on Thursday night, Feb. 28, by WSCC President Scott Ward and Ferris President David Eisler in the Center Stage Theater on the WSCC campus.
“Ferris State University is delighted with the new Connections partnership with West Shore Community College,” Eisler said. “Through this innovative relationship students can begin their college education at West Shore, be admitted to Ferris State University at the same time, and be prepared to seamlessly transfer to Ferris to earn their bachelor degree. I especially want to thank President Scott Ward. His innovative thinking and initiative helped make this program possible.”
The partnership, called the FSU Connections Program, will provide WSCC students with academic advising and access to Ferris libraries, recreational facilities and cultural, social and athletic events offered by the university. Additionally, students will have multiple opportunities to participate in collaborative programming, transfer orientations, guest lectures by FSU faculty on the WSCC campus and joint advising and program referral services.
The FSU Connections Program will also provide a Ferris student ID card entitling them to many privileges of enrollment including access to libraries, recreational facilities, athletic events, participation with student organizations, as well as access to cultural and social activities offered by the university.
“What makes this program unique is the addition of multiple opportunities for visiting the FSU campus and participating in collaborative programming that will serve to establish early dual-institutional identification and facilitate the transfer process,” Ward said.
This means WSCC students will receive organized cohort-group orientations and tours at Ferris in the first semester of study at WSCC, departments/majors orientations later in the second or third semester of study and transfer orientations in the final semester just before WSCC graduation.
“I’m excited about this new and unique partnership agreement. Each agreement we're able to secure shows our students that universities in our state recognize and respect the work they're doing at West Shore. We are committed to working together with our communities and other educational institutions to ensure students have the best possible pathway to success,” Ward said. “I’m excited about this new and unique partnership agreement. Each agreement we're able to secure shows our students that universities in our state recognize and respect the work they're doing at West Shore. We are committed to working together with our communities and other educational institutions to ensure students have the best possible pathway to success.”
Discussions will continue to offer additional pathways between the institutions.
For more information about the FSU Connections Program, contact the WSCC Office of Student Services at (231) 843-5946.
PHOTO CAPTION: Ferris State University President David Eisler and West Shore Community
College President Scott Ward are shown here as the two institutions signed partnership
agreements on Thursday, Feb. 28.