•
BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE, SMCC form landmark partnership, sign transfer agreements to ensure seamless transfer for SMCC students to UNE programs

The University of New England and Southern Maine Community College have formed a partnership and signed more than a dozen new transfer agreements that will ensure SMCC students can transfer seamlessly to programs at UNE that will prepare them for successful careers in high-demand and emerging industries.
 
UNE and SMCC officials on Monday signed a total of 16 transfer agreements and a partnership agreement that lays the groundwork for future transfer agreements and expanded research opportunities for faculty and students at both institutions. In all, the transfer agreements cover 10 academic programs at SMCC and 11 at UNE.
 
“This is a milestone partnership that ensures a smooth transition from community college to university and from associate degree to bachelor’s degree,” said SMCC President Ron Cantor. “These agreements assure our students that they will be admitted to UNE as juniors and can complete their associate and bachelor’s degrees in a total of four years. This will contribute to student success at both SMCC and UNE.”
 
By matching coursework between programs at both schools, the transfer agreements allow students to pre-plan their college careers and avoid taking unneeded credits and spending money on courses that won't count toward a bachelor’s degree. The agreements will enable students to earn their associate degree at SMCC in two years and complete their bachelor's degree at UNE with two additional years of study, in what is known as a 2+2 or seamless transfer.
 
“We have welcomed SMCC students for many years, but this agreement streamlines the transfer process and builds on our mutual strengths and shared interest in educating leaders for Maine’s workforce,” said UNE President Danielle Ripich. “We also look forward to collaborating on new program development, and to opportunities for UNE-SMCC faculty/student exchanges related to research and experiential learning.”
 
SMCC programs covered under the agreement include Marine Science; Business; Liberal Studies; Mathematics; English; Psychology; History; Political Science; Elementary Education; and Science.
 
From those programs, SMCC students can transfer into UNE programs that include  Nursing; Dental Hygiene; Applied Exercise Science; Health, Wellness and Occupational Studies; Environmental Studies; Mathematics; Business Administration; History; Liberal Studies; Political Science; and Marine Science.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.