Nichols to ink community college deals in three states

Courtesy Photo Nichols is a business-focused private school located in Dudley.

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By Sam Bonacci

Nichols College in Dudley is planning to ease the pathway to a bachelor’s degree for students from three New England community colleges with new agreements that streamline the credit and transfer process.

“Nichols College strives to become the most community college-friendly private college in New England, and it can provide the bridge between an associate’s degree and the career that community college students want to pursue,” Nichols President Susan Engelkemeyer said in a statement about the agreements that will be signed next week.

The agreements announced this week from the a four-year, private, business-focused school are with the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick; Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson, Conn.; and Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester. Having out-of-state and public to private agreements is unique, according to Nichols.

These articulation agreements are part of a Nichols-launched initiative called Affordable Business and Leadership Education (ABLE). The initiative streamlines the credit acceptance process while also guaranteeing admission as long as they meet the minimum GPA requirement of 2.0. Special pricing means that Nichols offers students who earn associate’s degrees from its partner institutions a rate that is lower than other private, four-year colleges.

Nichols College also has an articulation agreement with Mount Wachusett Community College and is in talks to expand that arrangement, according to Nichols.