The University of Maryland is making it easier for community college students to successfully transfer to the four-year university.
U.Md. recently extended its Maryland Transfer Advantage Program to the College of Southern Maryland and Anne Arundel Community College, after beginning the program at Montgomery College and Prince George?s Community College in 2005.
According to Ann Smith, assistant dean of undergraduate studies at U.Md., essentially all students at the four community colleges are eligible to participate.
“We are working with the community colleges that have the most significant pipeline to the University of Maryland,” Smith told The Examiner on Tuesday.
Students can apply to MTAP upon matriculation to their community college, and they are accepted to participate after completing one semester, Smith said.
Once they earn 15 credits, MTAP students can begin meeting with U.Md. advisers and receiving tuition discounts for one course per term over three semesters at the university while still attending their community college.
To complete MTAP, students must earn an associate degree or a transfer certificate and achieve a 3.0 grade point average. Students who meet the requirements are guaranteed admission to U.Md. at the College Park or Shady Grove sites.
“The notion is that we are putting into place a mechanism for community college students to have a clear unbroken path to a four year degree,” Smith said.
Currently, there are 105 Montgomery College students and 35 Prince George?s Community College students enrolled in the program.
“It helps them reach their educational goals by making the transfer process seamless,” said Montgomery College spokeswoman Elizabeth Homan. “We are pleased to see that the University of Maryland has extended the program.”
Verna Teasdale, senior academic administrator to the vice president for academic affairs at PrinceGeorge?s Community College, said the college invites students with a grade point average of 3.25 or better to apply to MTAP.
“The students that we recommend are accepted because they know we are recommending students that we are very sure will be successful at College Park,” Teasdale said.
