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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE and Biddeford High School sign agreement for qualifying students to earn college transfer credits

On September 16, 2015, the University of New England (UNE) and Biddeford High School signed an agreement between the two institutions that will enable high performing Biddeford High students who matriculate at UNE to earn college transfer credits, potentially enabling the students to earn a bachelor’s degree in just three years.

The agreement, signed by UNE President Danielle Ripich, Ph.D., and Biddeford Superintendent Jeremy Ray at Biddeford High School, will give Biddeford high graduates the opportunity to receive course credit at UNE if accepted to the university, provided that their scores on Advanced Placement (AP) exams meet specific cut-offs. If students are able to transfer a minimum of 30 credits, they may enroll at UNE with sophomore standing.

President Danielle Ripich said, “We are proud to partner with Biddeford High School to provide students an opportunity to cut college costs and gain a significant learning experience in the process. Students who meet the rigorous standards required to take advantage of this agreement are the type of high performing students that we love to see at UNE.”

There are 13 different AP exams on which qualifying scores will earn UNE credits: Art History, United States History, World History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Calculus, Statistics, Psychology, French, English Language and Composition, and English Literature and Composition. Each qualifying exam score earns between three and eight transfer credits. The exams are typically taken in the junior or senior year of high school.

Superintendent Jeremy Ray stated, “The community of Biddeford and the Biddeford School Department are extremely fortunate to have an outstanding university within its city’s borders that has committed to establishing a post-secondary articulation agreement.  This agreement will allow Biddeford students an opportunity to enroll in a college close to home with the possibility of a full year’s worth of credits earned.”

He continued, “I am thankful for the many new partnerships that President Ripich and her staff have supported and developed within the Biddeford School Department.  We cannot thank them enough for their commitment to Biddeford youth.” 

The agreement complements a similar arrangement made by UNE last year with Thornton Academy.    

                        

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.