The University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s modifications to their business program have gotten mixed reactions from other schools.
The College of Business Administration at UNL has made the decision to change the transfer credit requirements from community college business programs.
The new requirement going into effect this fall requires transfer students to achieve a minimum of a B in their business, accounting and economics classes in order to transfer.
Business Administration Co-Chairs Nancy Krumland and Beth Deinert of Southeast Community College surmised that the change was to conform to the model of other Big Ten Conference schools.
“UNL wanted to put itself in league with other Big Ten schools,” Deinert commented.
While some community colleges have criticized the move, SCC took a more positive spin on it.
“It gives our students an opportunity to look at other schools besides UNL,” Krumland noted.
Deinert added, “More institutions are saying ‘we’re going to work with you now.’ There is more competition for UNL.”
Other Nebraska colleges such as Nebraska Wesleyan University have seen this as an opportunity to woo community college transfers and other non-traditional students.
The Wesleyan Advantage program offered at NWU, which offers night courses as an alternative to traditional class schedules, speaks to this.
Deinert commented that credits received before Aug. 20 will still transfer under the old guidelines, which required a C to transfer to UNL. So any credits received during or before the spring 2012 quarter at SCC will not be subjected to the new requirements.
“There is miscommunication,” Deinert said. “The courses can still transfer [but] I think we’ll see a slight dip in enrollment.”
Krumland encouraged the students to “speak to their advisors.” She commented that many students don’t take advantage of the knowledge that advisors have.
Deinert further suggested that students should not be discouraged about taking classes from SCC.
“We can promote our small classes,” she began. “Accounting one and two are difficult … [but] the small classes help a lot.”
This change will only affect the Business Administration and Academic Transfer departments at SCC. Currently, only the College of Business Administration at UNL is changing its requirements.
Students who have concerns about the new requirements are encouraged to speak to their advisor.
The Business Administration Office is located in T‑100, and the Academic Transfer Advisors are located in U‑4, both on the Lincoln campus.