Growing Transfer Opportunities for JJC Students

Transferring after Joliet Junior College to complete a bachelor’s degree or beyond is a very common goal for many students. Thanks to JJC’s University Partnerships and Transfer Initiatives Department (UPTI), those goals are more attainable than ever before. Some transfer students are able to complete their bachelor’s degree without ever moving away or even leaving JJC. Others are able to go to the next school of their dreams with a smooth transfer agreement, specialized scholarships or tuition discounts.

This recently revitalized department has many services and benefits in place now for JJC transfer students, with more planned to come this year. The UPTI team manages more than 100 agreements between JJC and four-year institutions, spanning several different programs of study. Some are transfer agreements that ensure a partner institution will accept a student’s credits in a particular program; some are “3+1” agreements, which means the partner institution teaches their upper-level courses online or at the JJC Romeoville Campus, making it easier than ever before for JJC students to complete a bachelor’s degree.

“Our main goal is to provide opportunities for students looking to continue their education that may include benefits such as specialized scholarships, tuition discounts, additional advising and/or university courses offered at the Romeoville campus,” said Diane Urbanczyk, manager of UPTI.

The department also staffs the University Center at the Romeoville Campus, a dedicated area where JJC students can meet with representatives from four-year partners and learn about their programs, and which also provides office space for instructors from partner schools when they are on campus to teach. Some of JJC’s four-year partners that utilize the University Center include SIU-Edwardsville and Governors State University.

“We want JJC students to know that they should never feel that they have to figure out their transfer plans on their own,” said Urbanczyk. “When they work with their advisors, they will find that our transfer agreements eliminate any guesswork or stress for them.”

Students in a 3+1 program can also take advantage of a special scholarship available through the JJC Foundation. Dr. Carolyn Engers, who retired from JJC in 2000 after 32 years working in various roles, has funded the Dr. Carolyn M. T. Engers 3 + 1 University Partnership Scholarship. Students must be in the first year of a 3+1 program, have a minimum GPA of 2.5, and be enrolled in six or more credit hours. Funds may be used for tuition, fees, and books. To date, seven students have been awarded this scholarship.

This story first appeared in JJC's Spring 2022 Connections Magazine, a biannual publication prepared by the JJC Communications and Marketing Division and the Institutional Advancement Office.