Local college students could have expanded options for easier transfer of their associate degrees to other in-state schools, including Arizona State University.

The Mohave Community College governing board is set to approve two agreements during its regular meeting at 10 a.m. today.

The first agreement with Arizona State University would create a new program to begin next fall that guarantees MCC student enrollment into ASU if they successfully complete the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program.

If the student transfers to ASU within three years after entering the program, the university will cap tuition increases and MCC students will be able to directly enter the college of their choice without any lag time to pursue their bachelor’s.

“They will be assured their credits are more meaningful so they can maximize their time,” said Danette Bristle, MCC dean of instruction. “It’s more directed than what we currently have.”

Bristle said the program would be offered to a “broad range of degrees.”

The second agreement initializes a partnership with Western International University, based in Phoenix. Although WIU does not have campuses close to Lake Havasu City, the university does offer online interactive distance education for working families. The agreement would allow a credit transfer toward a bachelor’s degree. The associates’ degrees would be accepted in full as the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at WIU.

The WIU agreement would be the 16th agreement that MCC would have in place allowing credit transfers to other schools so that MCC students enter other institutions as a junior.

Other institutions include University of Phoenix, in-state public universities and several other out-of-state universities as well.

“Mohave Community College administration and staff are continually looking for opportunities that allow community college students to advance and transfer seamlessly to universities in Arizona and throughout the United States,” Bristle said.

The board will meet in Interactive Television (ITV) room 502 at the Lake Havasu City campus at 1977 S. Acoma Blvd.

To view the meeting’s agenda or for more information go to: www.mohave.edu.

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com