Rocky Mount, N.C.— Associate degree graduates at Wake Technical Community College now have a new, seamless way to continue on to earn a bachelor’s degree. Wake Tech and North Carolina Wesleyan College have announced a new partnership that gives Wake Tech graduates guaranteed admission to NC Wesleyan. In addition to accepting Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Associate in Science (A.S.) graduates, the 2+ Wesleyan Program enables graduates of several Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree programs to transfer as well.

“In the past, A.A.S. degrees have been geared toward putting graduates to work immediately,” says Wake Tech President Dr. Stephen Scott. “This partnership opens exciting new doors, especially for those graduating with an A.A.S. degree, because it provides transfer opportunities that haven’t been available before.”

Seventeen A.A.S. programs of study are included in the agreement, including Advertising and Graphic Design, Accounting, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Computer Information Technology, and Web Technologies.

The 2+ Wesleyan Program includes a special funding component that makes the cost of attending NC Wesleyan competitive with state-supported universities. Students can take traditional day classes or enroll in Wesleyan’s accelerated evening program at its Triangle campus in Morrisville or at campuses in Rocky Mount and Goldsboro. Advisors from Wesleyan will maintain weekly office hours at Wake Tech.

NC Wesleyan President James A. Gray III says the college is excited about the new agreement. "Wake Tech has proven itself to be in the forefront of educating more and more students in an extraordinary way in today's extraordinary economy,” he says. “Wesleyan is thrilled to be Wake Tech’s partner because of the benefits our agreement brings to the students themselves and to Wesleyan. These are high-quality, hard-working students, and we are proud to have them in our student body."

The 2+ Wesleyan Program is the latest in a series of new partnerships between Wake Tech and public and private four-year institutions. It enhances the current comprehensive articulation agreement with the North Carolina Community College System.

Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) is a two-year, public institution providing an open door to education and training for the citizens of Wake County and surrounding communities. Known as “College for the Real World,” the college provides a comprehensive array of learning opportunities and serves an annual enrollment of more than 65,000 students. Curriculum (for-credit) programs in more than 150 academic, vocational, and technical specialties offer two-year associate degrees in science, applied science, the arts, and general education; university transfer programs for entry into four-year institutions; and diploma and certificate programs that prepare workers to succeed at jobs in high demand in the community. Wake Tech also offers a broad scope of continuing education courses, including training for entrepreneurs and small business owners, public safety officer training (fire, rescue, and law enforcement), high school equivalency classes, and non-credit courses for personal and professional development. As the second largest community college in the state, Wake Tech provides customized workforce training for new and expanding industries and a cooperative education program that interfaces with the corporate community.

North Carolina Wesleyan College is an independent, four-year liberal arts college for men and women, founded in 1956 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church. Located on a 200-acre site in Rocky Mount, Wesleyan offers the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 22 majors on the main campus. The college’s Adult Degree Program offers Bachelor’s degrees in several disciplines on the main campus and at sites in Goldsboro and the Triangle.