Your Path to an Accelerated Associate Degree

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Howard Francis
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1 Your Path to an Accelerated Associate Degree

2 MassBay ExpressWay Your path to an accelerated Associate Degree MassBay ExpressWay provides full-time, fall-entry students with a pathway to complete an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts in one year. The ExpressWay option provides a fully transfer-eligible associate degree through the MassTransfer agreement, which can expedite a student s entry into a four-year college or university and help save time spent on earning a bachelor s degree. Students in ExpressWay enroll in a series of block-scheduled, 8-week courses in the Fall and Spring semesters, to earn approximately 30 credits between September and December and 30 credits between January and May. ExpressWay students will be offered strategic support, including a common study hour, access to tutors in the Academic Achievement Center (AAC), two academic group activities, a dedicated director and success advisor, and a renewable $100 academic scholarship incentive pending continued success in the 8-week courses, with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. 1

time spent on earning a bachelor s degree.

3 ExpressWay Admissions Criteria 1. ExpressWay is only open to new full-time students, starting in the Fall semester at the College. 2. Students applying for ExpressWay must have a strong academic background and submit a high school transcript with an average GPA of 85% (B), or 3.0, or higher. 3. Students must apply for acceptance into ExpressWay no later than July 31 for the Fall semester. Please contact the Admissions Office for the ExpressWay application form. 4. Students must be admitted to ExpressWay and attend Fall, Spring, and when applicable, a required Winter Intersession. 5. Classes in ExpressWay include a blend of face-to-face, online, weekday courses, and a required Saturday course. 6. Students must attend a required, specialized ExpressWay orientation and SOAR session in mid-august. Failure to attend will result in forfeiting a seat in the program. 7. Enrollment in ExpressWay is limited to 40 students. 2

0, or higher. 3. Students must apply for acceptance into ExpressWay no later than July 31 for the Fall semester. Please contact the Admissions Office for the ExpressWay application form. 4.

4 ExpressWay FAQ 1. Is ExpressWay eligible for transfer to a bachelor s degree program? Yes. MassBay s ExpressWay program provides the A.A. in Liberal Arts, which is eligible for the MassTransfer program and satisfies the MassTransfer Block. The MassTransfer program provides students with guaranteed admission and transfer pathways to the Massachusetts State Universities and University of Massachusetts campuses, contingent upon a minimum GPA requirement. What this means is that students with a minimum 2.5 GPA upon completion of ExpressWay will be guaranteed admission as juniors to most of the majors at our transfer partners, as outlined in the MassTransfer agreement. The degree is also transferrable to other four-year colleges or universities contingent upon institutional admission requirements. 2. Is ExpressWay eligible for Federal Financial Aid? Yes. Students in ExpressWay are eligible for federal financial aid. Students must file the FAFSA and meet financial aid eligibility requirements. Meet with the Office of Financial Aid for more information. 3. What are the benefits of ExpressWay? ExpressWay offers the major benefit of reduced time to completion. Students successful in ExpressWay receive their Associate Degree in one year, as opposed to the traditional two year Associate Degree model. Students also receive a renewable merit scholarship ($100 initially, and $100 at the beginning of each 8-week period), access to a dedicated director, a common study hour, and access to advising support. 4. Can I work a job while on ExpressWay? It is not recommended that students work full-time while taking ExpressWay. Because the academic requirements include weekday, Saturday, and online intensive coursework, students should dedicate to full-time studies. 3

GPA requirement. What this means is that students with a minimum 2.

5 ExpressWay FAQ (continued) 5. What if I withdraw from a course, fail a course, or fail to resolve an incomplete while enrolled as an ExpressWay student? Will I still be eligible to take courses at MassBay, or still take the ExpressWay program? Students in ExpressWay who are not successful in passing a course, who withdraw, or who receive an incomplete are still eligible to continue taking courses at MassBay Community College, but are no longer eligible for the benefits of the ExpressWay program. These students would matriculate in a traditional degree program and would no longer be following a one-year degree completion. In this circumstance, students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor. 6. What if my cumulative GPA drops below 2.0 while taking ExpressWay? Students in ExpressWay whose cumulative GPA drops below 2.0 are no longer eligible for the benefits of ExpressWay, and may be subject to academic consequences consistent with the requirements of satisfactory academic progress. These students would matriculate in a traditional degree program and would no longer be following a one-year degree completion. 4

Students in ExpressWay who are not successful in passing a course, who withdraw, or who receive an incomplete are still eligible to continue taking courses at MassBay Community College, but are no

6 ExpressWay Timeline July 31: Deadline for admissions to MassBay ExpressWay accelerated associate s degree program. Admissions office will provide letters of admissions and welcome materials to students who meet all admissions requirements for the program, with required orientation information. August: Dedicated orientation session for ExpressWay students. Meet director and attend Student Orientation and Registration. Students receive first scholarship incentive ($100 merit award). Students receive academic schedule for the first 8-week Fall session and set-up advising appointments with director. September to October: Students attend classes. Students have weekly meetings with director and a dedicated study hour. End of October: Assess student eligibility for continuation in the ExpressWay program. Award of second $100 merit award to eligible students. Students receive academic schedule for second 8-week Fall session. November to December: Students attend classes. Students have weekly meetings with director and a dedicated study hour. Mid-December: Assess student eligibility for continuation in the ExpressWay program. Award of third $100 merit award to eligible students. Students receive academic schedule for first 8-week Spring session. January to February: Students attend classes. Students have weekly meetings with director and a dedicated study hour. Early March: Assess student eligibility for continuation in the ExpressWay program. Award of final $100 merit award to eligible students. Students receive academic schedule for second 8-week Spring session. March-May: Students attend classes. Students have weekly meetings with director and a dedicated study hour. Mid-May: GRADUATION! 5

August: Dedicated orientation session for ExpressWay students. Meet director and attend Student Orientation and Registration. Students receive first scholarship incentive ($100 merit award).

7 Tentative ExpressWay Course Schedule* Fall Semester 8 Week - Session 1 8 Week - Session 2 EN-101 Freshman English 1 EN-102 Freshman English 2 CS-100* Computers & Technology CT-100 Critical Thinking HS-101 Western Civilization 1 HS-102 Western Civilization BI-101** General Biology 1 (with Lab) BI-102** General Biology 2 (with Lab) CO-131 Oral Communication MA-105* Introduction to Statistics Fall Semester (32 Credits) Spring Semester 8 Week - Session 1 8 Week - Session 2 * Online Course ** Saturday Course LI-203 American Literature 1 LI-204 American Literature 2 PH-102 Ethics HU-105 World Religions PS-101 Introduction to Psychology PS-118 Life-Span Psychology EC-201 Principles of Macroeconomics EC-202 Principles of Microeconomics SP-101 Beginning Spanish 1 Spring Semester (30 Credits) SP-102 Beginning Spanish 2 *Draft schedule subject to change. 6

Semester (32 Credits) Spring Semester 8 Week - Session 1 8 Week - Session 2 * Online Course ** Saturday Course LI-203 American Literature 1 LI-204 American Literature 2 PH-102 Ethics HU-105 World

8 Important College Contact Information Academic Advising Office Wellesley Hills & Framingham: Admissions Office Wellesley Hills: Framingham: Financial Aid Office Wellesley Hills: Framingham: Student Orientation and Registration (SOAR) Wellesley Hills & Framingham: Placement Testing Wellesley Hills & Framingham: Office of the Registrar Wellesley Hills: Framingham: Student Accounts Office Wellesley Hills & Framingham: Student Development Office Wellesley Hills: Framingham: Wellesley Hills Campus 50 Oakland Street Wellesley Hills, MA Wellesley Hills Campus Bookstore Wellesley Hills & Framingham: Framingham Campus Bookstore Wellesley Hills & Framingham: Framingham Campus 19 Flagg Drive Framingham, MA Ashland Technology Center 250 Eliot Street Ashland, MA

edu Wellesley Hills: 781-239-2600 Framingham: 508-270-4010 Student Orientation and Registration (SOAR) soar@massbay.edu Wellesley Hills & Framingham: 781-239-2721 Placement Testing aac@massbay.

Dear Parents, We wish your student much success here at Bergen Community College and trust this information is helpful. Sincerely,

Dear Parents, We wish your student much success here at Bergen Community College and trust this information is helpful. Sincerely, Dear Parents, Making the transition from high school to college may be challenging and sometimes difficult. Students must adjust to new academic standards, make new friends, and make appropriate decisions