For the City Times

A collaboration between Mid-State Technical College and Nicolet College has created a new option for local students to obtain a liberal arts associate degree. The Liberal Arts Collaborative Agreement allows students to obtain a Nicolet Liberal Arts associate of science or associate of arts degree by completing coursework at Mid-State. The agreement will be signed on Wednesday, November 16, by Nicolet College president Richard Nelson and Mid-State president Sue Budjac in a ceremony at Mid-State’s Wisconsin Rapids campus.

Students complete the first 30 credits of their general education by taking Mid-State courses available at the College’s Wisconsin Rapids and Stevens Point campuses. They complete the remaining credits of the degree by taking Nicolet courses offered at Mid-State or through online or distance learning options. Students will participate in smaller classes with high-quality faculty and experience significant educational cost savings due to lower tuition and the ability to complete their degree close to home.

“This agreement offers students an option for obtaining an associate degree in liberal arts, which builds diverse skills and knowledge valued in today’s work environments,“ said Mid-State’s dean of general education and business, Missy Skurzewski-Servant. “And because Nicolet’s Liberal Arts associate degrees satisfy general education requirements at four-year institutions, students who plan to transfer will have a head start on their baccalaureate degree.”

Participating students will apply and meet the admissions requirements at both colleges but pay a one-time application fee. They must also maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in all applicable general education courses at Mid-State in order for those courses to apply at Nicolet. While enrolled in the program, they will have access to Mid-State’s student services, including counseling, career assessment, tutoring and student life.

Those interested in learning more about the Liberal Arts Collaborative Agreement can contact Skurzewski-Servant at (715) 422-5356.