Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) and all Maricopa Community Colleges are partners with many universities in the state and across the nation, but unique relationships with Northern Arizona University (NAU) and University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) at EMCC allows students to plan for, work on and complete their 4-year degree on or near the Estrella Mountain campus, helping the state increase its number of people with bachelor’s degrees, right from the West Valley.
The NAU Connection is a partnership between the Maricopa Community College District and NAU which allows students to complete a bachelor’s degree after receiving their associate’s degree by attending courses either on the community college campus or at another location in the community. As part of this program, an NAU advisor is located at the community college campus to assist interested students. There are two programs offered by the NAU Connection office located at EMCC – a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education or a Bachelor of Arts/Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) with an emphasis in Public Management. The BIS program is a 90/30 program, meaning students can actually transfer 90 community college credits to NAU, saving them an extra year’s worth of University tuition. Having an advisor located on the college campus allows students to have one-on-one advising throughout their college experience. “They start with me here and I advise them all the way through the program,” said Sarah Padelford, NAU program coordinator. Students complete their first two years of study at Estrella Mountain Community College and transfer right into the NAU courses needed to complete their bachelor’s degree. The courses are offered in the immediate vicinity of the college so students don’t need to travel away from their community to complete their degree. “The flexibility of class schedules, convenient locations, and seamless transition from community college to university, provide students with the opportunity to ensure their success in achieving their educational goals,” said Padelford.
Advisors for University of the Incarnate Word are also available on the Estrella Mountain campus. UIW is a Texas university that is branching out by offering courses in the West Valley through its Extended Academic Programs Division. UIW offers several bachelor’s and master’s degrees including, Business Administration, Nursing, Organizational Management, and more. Students can complete nearly three years of work at Estrella Mountain Community College and complete an additional 45 hours of credit with UIW to receive their bachelor’s degree. Estrella Mountain students have the opportunity to begin their college advising experience with a UIW advisor and continue through the program by participating in courses taught in Goodyear. UIW offers an additional benefit - free textbooks for students taking UIW courses. “We have had a presence in the West Valley since 2007 in close partnership with Estrella Mountain Community College. Our tuition rate, with no educational fees, and free textbooks makes us very competitive to other schools in Arizona”, says Dr. Cyndi Wilson Porter, vice president for extended academic programs.
Both NAU and UIW offer courses online or with flexible scheduling so students have every opportunity to complete their bachelor’s degree. Estrella Mountain has many other university partnerships, including Arizona State University, Ottawa University, and more.
For additional information about the NAU Connection, please contact Sarah Padelford at 623-935-8558, or for more information about UIW programs, contact Steve Swatzell at 623-523-3226 or Debbie Patton at 623-523-1721.