Virginia Tech announces broader guaranteed admission agreement with Virginia Community College System

To further help state residents gain access to higher education, Virginia Tech and the Virginia Community College System have adopted an additional guaranteed admission agreement that will facilitate the smooth transfer of students graduating from in-state community colleges to the university.

The agreement takes effect in time for the 2007-08 academic year and will be reviewed every three years in order to improve the transfer process.

In order to qualify for guaranteed admission to the summer or fall term, students must begin at and graduate from a Virginia community college and complete a transfer-oriented degree program with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.40 or higher on a four-point scale.

In addition, students must earn a grade of B or better in English, mathematics specific to the intended major, sciences with labs specific to the intended major, and social sciences. Successful portfolio review and audition are required for all fine arts and music applicants. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in each community college course applicable to the transfer-oriented associate degree program.

"We are committed to helping students across the state gain access to a quality higher education," said David Ford, vice provost for academic affairs. “This fall, Virginia Tech will welcome nearly 450 transfer students from the Virginia Community College System, and we expect to increase this in the future. This agreement, which is similar to our existing agreements that help students enroll in our agricultural and engineering programs, provides even greater opportunities for community college students."

“Virginia Tech has been and continues to be a leader in the effort to expand access to higher education,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System. “We are proud to be building on our relationship with Virginia Tech – a relationship that benefits students and families across Virginia. Students can enjoy financial advantage of lower tuition in a high-quality learning environment for two years, and then go on to complete a bachelor’s degree program at one of the finest research universities in the nation.”

“These guaranteed transfer agreements create opportunities for the families we serve,” said Mark Graham, chairman of the State Board for Community Colleges. “By giving our students this additional avenue to pursue a bachelor’s degree, beginning at a community college, we are helping our students and the commonwealth be more competitive in the 21st century economy.”

Virginia Tech will guarantee the acceptance of all transferable credits earned from the transfer-oriented associate degree program, not to exceed 60 credits. The completion of a transfer-oriented degree fulfills the requirements of Virginia Tech’ Undergraduate Curriculum for Liberal Education. Acceptance into some degree programs at Virginia Tech is competitive; this agreement does not apply to majors within the School of Architecture and Design.

The new guaranteed admission agreement does not supersede existing guaranteed admission agreements with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (established in 2004) and the College of Engineering (established in 2005).

Students enrolling at Virginia Tech are eligible to apply for scholarships designated by the university exclusively for transfer students. Nine “Lifeline Scholarships” are awarded annually based on academic merit and the receipt of an associate degree from the Virginia Community College System.

Virginia Tech’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions will continue its highly successful on-site degree review program. Representatives from the Office of Admissions meet with community college students to review transcripts and class schedules and explain transfer guidelines. In 2007, admissions officers held review sessions with hundreds of students at 17 Virginia community college campuses.

Transfer-oriented associate degrees refer to the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Arts and Sciences degrees. This includes Virginia Community College System general studies associate degrees that have been approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).