Roxbury Community College Grads To Be Accepted At Springfield College

Springfield, Mass., June 2, 2003. -- Roxbury Community College (RCC) graduates of several associate’s degree programs will be automatically accepted by the Boston Campus of the Springfield College School of Human Services (SHS) with full credit toward their bachelor’s degrees.

A new agreement between the two colleges effects students who will earn RCC associates degrees in liberal arts-social science, criminal justice, and early childhood education, and who have performed at least two years of community service. They will be eligible to transfer up to 72 credits for successfully completed RCC courses that are equivalent to SHS courses.

Springfield College opened the Boston Campus of its School of Human Services in 1997 in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Boston at 316 Huntington Ave., Boston. The SHS program is designed for working adults with classes two weekends a month for bachelor’s degree candidates and one weekend a month at the master’s level. The curriculum reflects a commitment to community partnership and academic excellence to prepare leaders in service to other people.

According to Robert J. Willey, dean of the Springfield College School of Human Services, “Roxbury Community College graduates who aspire to careers in human services have consistently demonstrated solid academic preparation and track records for dedication to their communities. We welcome the experience that they will bring to our learning environment and look forward in guiding their preparation to become leaders in their field.”

Randolph Jones, RCC’s vice president for enrollment management and student affairs, said, “This new partnership will enable our community college and the Springfield College School of Human Services to combine our areas of expertise to prepare students for the wider range of more rewarding careers open to candidates with higher education.”

Qualified RCC graduates will enter the Boston Campus of the Springfield College School of Human Services as third-year students and will be able to complete requirements for their bachelor’s degrees in as little as an additional 16 months of four semesters of full-time study. The SHS offers a process for students to claim up to six academic credits for work experience that is equivalent to college-level learning. Many students enter the program with years of experience in human services work. The school follows standards of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning in awarding course credit for prior learning.

The bachelor’s degree at the Springfield College School of Human Services requires 120 credits, including at least 48 credits earned at the SHS. As a requirement for graduation, the school requires students to identify a community need and to design and implement a program to address it. For RCC students who apply for transfer prior to earning their associates degrees, the SHS will individually evaluate courses that they have taken.

In addition to its main campus in Springfield, Massachusetts, Springfield College maintains School of Human Services campuses in Tampa, Florida; San Diego and Inglewood, California; Wilmington, Delaware; Manchester, New Hampshire; Charleston, South Carolina; St. Johnsbury, Vermont; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

At its main campus, Springfield College offers bachelor’s degree programs in 50 majors, master’s degree programs in 14 concentrations and a doctoral program in physical education. There are more than 5,000 students at its main and remote campuses, and 34,000 alumni in 60 nations. Academics and student life are characterized by the college’s humanics philosophy that emphasizes educating the whole person, consisting of spirit, mind, and body, for leadership in service to other people.

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