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UMGC Global Media Center
UMGC and Metropolitan Community College Establish Transfer Agreement 

Students of Oldest Public Institution of Higher Learning in Kansas City, Mo. Receive Accelerated Pathway to a Bachelor's

Bob Ludwig
By Bob Ludwig

Adelphi, Md. (June 15, 2022)—University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and Metropolitan Community College (MCC), the oldest public institution of higher learning in Kansas City, Mo., have announced a partnership that will expand the reach of UMGC’s 90 online academic programs and increase the affordability of a bachelor’s degree to MCC’s nearly 14,000 students.

Under the alliance’s transfer agreement, students can transfer a minimum of 60 credits when they complete an associate degree and be guaranteed admission to a UMGC bachelor’s degree program in a complementary field of study.

All degree-seeking MCC students, graduates, and employees of the college, as well as their spouses and dependents who attend the college, will receive a waiver of the UMGC application fee and a discount on out-of-state tuition for most programs of study.

“We are pleased to join with Metropolitan Community College to increase access to quality online bachelor’s programs and accelerate the pathway to a four-year degree,” said Blakely Pomietto, senior vice president and chief academic officer at UMGC. “It is critical to provide a seamless process for MCC’s students to ultimately achieve their educational goals as efficiently and affordably as possible.”

UMGC has an enrollment of some 90,000 students—more than half of whom are active-duty military personnel and their families serving on military bases around the world—and offers award-winning online, in-person and hybrid programs in disciplines including biotechnology, cybersecurity, data analytics, and information technology that are in high demand in today’s increasingly technical, global workplace. UMGC also offers cost savings through its use of digital resources, which have replaced costly publisher textbooks in most courses.

“We are excited about this new partnership with UMGC,” said Sue Gochis, chief academic officer and vice chancellor of instruction at MCC. “This relationship is completely aligned with the Metropolitan Community College mission:  Preparing students, serving communities, and creating opportunities for all.   Providing increased access to transfer opportunities is one of the ways in which we can continue to serve our students in their educational journey.”

For more information, visit the university’s national community college alliances webpage.

About University of Maryland Global Campus

Currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) was established in 1947 to serve adults in the workforce and the military. Today, UMGC enrolls some 90,000 students annually, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates in more than 90 fully online and hybrid programs and specializations.  

UMGC has a long history of innovation in reaching students where they are, including as a pioneer of internet instruction, piloting its first online classes in 1994. The university has received numerous awards for its groundbreaking work in developing fully online degree programs, including in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, business, data analytics, health care and education. 

UMGC now offers classes to military service personnel and their families at some 180 locations in more than 20 countries. More than half of the university’s students are active-duty military personnel, their families, members of the National Guard and veterans. 

About Metropolitan Community College

Metropolitan Community College, founded in 1915 as the Kansas City Polytechnic Institute, is the oldest public institution of higher learning in Kansas City, Mo., and was the first community college established in Missouri. The Junior College of Kansas City, as it was known starting in 1919, was one of the first schools in the country to award an associate degree. Today, MCC offers 125 associate degree and certificate programs and serves nearly 14,000 students at five campuses (MCC-Blue River, MCC-Longview, MCC-Maple Woods, MCC-Online, and MCC-Penn Valley).