Niagara College students can now cross over border to university for degrees

Niagara College and Niagara University may be in two different countries but soon the local college students in diploma courses will be able to cross the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge and come back with degrees.

The two school hammered out a Dual Admission agreement, as well as an Academic Articulation agreement, on February 23 allowing for the crossover between campuses.

The two new agreements create more opportunities for students from diploma programs at Niagara College to seamlessly transition to a degree program at Niagara University.

“As a binational university, Niagara University has a legacy of education in Ontario, and a great history of working closely with Niagara College in providing educational pathways that lead to career opportunities for their students,” said Rev. James J. Maher, President of Niagara University.

“This partnership advances our strategic collaboration, creates a seamless application process for students, provides a dual admission scholarship, and gives students a clear direction into an academic pathway.”

Niagara College President Sean Kennedy agreed.

“Niagara University has been a longstanding friend and partner of Niagara College, and we are thrilled that these new agreements further extend our collaboration and creates new pathways for our students to study at both institutions.”

According to Fiona Allan, Niagara College’s Vice-President of Academic, their students will be able to cross over to the Lewiston, New York campus “provided they maintain a good standing within their program at Niagara College (and) will be guaranteed acceptance to Niagara University after graduation.”

To be eligible for the post-graduate shift to New York, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 65 per cent. Eight different programs at Niagara College are eligible for the degree program.

Programs which are a part of the Dual Admission Agreement include:

• NC’s Early Childhood Education program, to NU’s Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts;
• NC’s Child and Youth Care program, to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Psychology;
• NC’s Social Service Worker program, to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work;
• NC’s Sport Management program, to NU’s Bachelor of Sports Management – Sports Operation;
• NC’s Police Foundations program, to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice;
• NC’s Business Administration – International Business program, to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Management;
• NC’s Business Administration – Marketing (Co-op) program to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Management;
• NC’s Business Administration – Supply Chain and Operations Management (Co-op) program, to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Management.

With campuses in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Welland, Niagara College is the youngster of the pair, being founded in 1967.

Founded by the Vincentian community in 1856, Niagara University is a comprehensive institution, blending the best of a liberal arts and professional education, “grounded in our values-based Catholic tradition.”