EWU and Columbia Basin College partner for credit transfer program

PASCO —Eastern Washington University and Columbia Basin College (CBC) announced in a news release that they have signed an innovative agreement designed to provide CBC students with a clear transfer pathway to attend EWU and earn a four-year degree.

The program, Destination Eastern, enables students to begin a bachelor program upon initiating their post-secondary education at CBC. The two colleges will combine resources to provide coordinated bachelor’s degree offerings to students who are enrolled in transferable degree programs at the community college. This transfer agreement is for students who want to transfer to EWU to complete the baccalaureate degree.

“This exciting partnership provides course alignment between the associate degree at CBC and the four-year degree at EWU,” EWU President Mary Cullinan said in the release. “If the plans of study are followed, students who transfer to EWU are better positioned to graduate on time. This agreement leverages the high quality experience received at CBC and maximizes institutional resources for student success at EWU.”

EWU and CBC believe a well-coordinated transfer process improves student transfer success. And streamlining the transfer process, while minimizing the loss of credits and duplication of coursework, will only benefit students transferring from the community college to Eastern.

“As the least expensive public university in the state, Eastern Washington University is the most affordable residential destination for CBC students who wish to complete a high-quality bachelor’s degree,” CBC president Rich Cummins said in the release.

Destination Eastern also calls for CBC to seek improved access for associate degree graduates to a baccalaureate education, and for EWU to improve its presence as the transfer destination for CBC graduates. EWU personnel are expanding their presence at the CBC Transfer Center holding office hours to promote and explain the program.

For more information regarding this program, contact Lane Schumacher, associate dean for Student Retention at CBC or Cathy Sleeth, director of Admissions at EWU at [email protected] or (509)359-6582.