GMC opens doors with university partnerships

  • President of Georgia Military College Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, USA (Ret.), and Provost and Executive Vice President of Georgia Southern University Carl Reiber shake hands. COURTESY OF GMC
    President of Georgia Military College Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, USA (Ret.), and Provost and Executive Vice President of Georgia Southern University Carl Reiber shake hands. COURTESY OF GMC
  • Caldwell IV and Reiber sign the articulation agreement. COURTESY OF GMC
    Caldwell IV and Reiber sign the articulation agreement. COURTESY OF GMC

Georgia Military College (GMC) held a ceremony in its Legislative Chamber March 8 to sign a unique articulation agreement with Georgia Southern University (GSU).

The agreement allows GMC’s Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) graduates from the Global Online Leadership College to transfer into graduate programs at GSU. Unlike previous graduate degree articulation agreements, this agreement allows BAS graduates to transfer into any of the GSU graduate programs including the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies, the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, and the Parker College of Business. Prior agreements have limited transfers to a specific degree program.

“It allows all of our BAS students to matriculate into a master’s program at Georgia Southern University. What makes this agreement different is that it’s the first time that is possible for all of our BAS students,” said Tracey Makley, vice president of Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness. “We have had one agreement previously with Georgia College that allowed three of our BAS students to go into some of their masters of business, but none of their other masters programs. So, all students now have the opportunity to go into a variety of masters programs.”

Agreements like this are important to GMC’s mission to offer more pathways for their students to pursue after graduation. GMC Senior Vice President, Chief Academic Officer, and Dean of Faculty - Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness Susan Isaac stated that GMC currently has about 20 articulation agreements with the Technical System of Georgia, 17 agreements with the University of Georgia system, 14 agreements with the Georgia Independent College Association, nine agreements with private colleges, and four agreements with institutions out of the state.

Beyond these signed agreements, GMC is also hosting discussions with multiple universities for future articulation agreements with more opportunities. The partnership with GSU is only the first step of many to widen the scope of options for graduates.

“We are trying to build those bridges for our students so they can expand their education,” said Makley. “We want them to trek into the workforce or master’s program,” added Isaac.

According to Isaac, the students are prepared for online master’s programs by the time that they graduate. The BAS students are familiar with taking courses purely online, have the resilience to work on their own, and can adapt to the pace that master’s programs are taught.

“They are used to the fast-paced environment and have the resilience to work on their own,” said Isaac. “The retention rate of those students is high. That is one of the reasons we are able to create so many partnerships.”

GMC’s Global Online Leadership College’s courses are designed by professional course designers that are paired with GMC faculty. Faculty provide the expertise of the curriculum and the designers create the course to work efficiently and effectively for the platform.

“It becomes a standardized course once it has met all qualifications and we continue to do spotchecks after its release to the public to ensure its efficiency,” said Isaac. “It allows the faculty to add their knowledge to the curriculum because they do not have to worry about creating tests and other materials. As a result, students have more access to tutoring and teacher assistance.”

Agreements like this allow a smooth transition from an associate’s degree of applied science to a bachelor’s degree of applied science and into a master’s program of the student’s choosing. Ultimately, as GMC continues discussions for future articulation agreements, the opportunities will grow to offer a seamless educational experience for any degree a student may seek.