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Cossatot Community College |
CCCUA Student Receives Bachelor’s Degree Through Online Completion Program
09 November 2004
OZAN – Stephanie Staggers, a 2000 graduate of Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas, has been awarded a bachelor’s degree from Franklin University. The University’s Commencement was held August 15th. Franklin University is located in Columbus, Ohio.
Staggers completed her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration by participating in a unique educational alliance between CCCUA and Franklin University. The bachelor’s degree completion program allows students in the U.S. to combine on-campus coursework at their local community college with online classes through Franklin to complete their degree.
Cossatot Community College is one of more than 200 community colleges across the U.S. that has formed an educational alliance with Franklin University. The Community College Alliance was established to provide students the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s degree online while remaining in their community. Bachelor’s degrees are available in: Accounting, Applied Management, Business Administration, Computer Science, Digital Communication, Health Care Management, Information Technology, Management, Management Information Sciences, and Public Safety Management. An innovative 17-month online MBA also is available.
Staggers, who currently works at CCCUA’s Nashville Extension, is in the process of choosing an institution at which she will pursue an MBA program. An Ozan native, she graduated from Nashville High School in 1997. “I believe that Cossatot cares about their students. They help them in every way possible. I really believe Cossatot is the ‘best little community college in Arkansas’.”
Adults have responded enthusiastically to the convenient online format and the ability to fit classes into their daily schedule. Students also have the benefit of belonging to two schools at one time. They can access Franklin’s resources in addition to the resources of Cossatot CC. Franklin’s resources include academic advising, a help desk and a library system. Each student also is assigned a Student Services Associate who provides support and guidance by answering questions about transcripts, financial aid or even how to purchase textbooks.
Franklin University serves nearly 10,000 students annually through its on-campus programs in Columbus, Ohio and the Community College Alliance. More than 200 community colleges in 31 states have teamed with the university to serve students. In addition to offering 15 undergraduate degree programs, the 100-year-old university now has three master’s degree programs, including an MBA offered in an online format. In 1999, Franklin was named as one of 15 educational organizations nationwide for a U.S. Department of Education pilot project, which ensures that federal financial aid is available to students pursuing college degrees through distance learning.
For its part, CCCUA has educational partnerships with nearly a dozen institutions of higher education. They are:
Associate of Arts Degree partnerships:
Associate of Arts in Fire Science: Southern Arkansas University Tech at Camden.
Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice: Criminal Justice Institute in Little Rock.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degree partnerships:
Bachelor of Arts in Agriculture: University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Bachelor of Arts in Business, Computers, and other fields: Franklin University, Columbus, Ohio.
Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) in Human Resource Development: U of A - Fayetteville.
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education: Southern Arkansas University.
Bachelor of Science in Forestry: University of Arkansas at Monticello
Master of Arts Degree partnerships:
Master of Arts in Business, Computers, and other fields: Franklin University, Columbus, Ohio
Master of Arts in Human Resource Development, with tracks in Vocational and Adult Education, Human Resources, and Rehabilitation Services: University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
For more information on these educational programs, call 800-844-4471.
Cossatot Community College offers both technical certification and Associate’s degrees in a wide range of fields on its campus at De Queen, at extension sites at Nashville and Ashdown, and at cccua.edu. It has an enrollment of more than 1,000 students, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
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