The agreement allows qualified students from City Colleges of Chicago who earned an associate degree to transfer to Valparaiso University to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
A new agreement has been established between Valparaiso University and City Colleges of Chicago. The agreement guarantees Valparaiso University admission for City Colleges of Chicago students who meet certain criteria, including a GPA requirement. The agreement is in line with Valparaiso University’s five-year plan entitled Uplift Valpo, Our Beacon for the Journey Forward.
According to an article on Valparaiso University’s website, the university’s president, José D. Padilla, is looking forward to welcoming City Colleges of Chicago students on campus. He is quoted as saying of the agreement, “I’m thrilled to be working alongside City Colleges of Chicago as we find new ways to help these brilliant students meet their academic goals. Chicago and Northwest Indiana will benefit immensely from the trained professionals and leaders that this partnership will produce.”
In order to be qualified for guaranteed admission at Valparaiso University, City Colleges of Chicago students must meet two criteria: have a GPA of at least 2.5, and have completed an Associate in Arts, an Associate in General Studies, or an Associate in Applied Science degree from City Colleges of Chicago. Additionally, in order to continue being eligible for admission at Valparaiso, students must continue to maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.
Juan Salgado, who serves as the chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago, shared his enthusiasm for this agreement as it will benefit his students as they pursue their education. He said, “Valparaiso University is a place where our students can uncover their passion and learn. Class sizes are small so our students will get the individualized attention they need as well as receive a world class education. I’m thankful for this transfer agreement because it will save our students time and money, and help them soar.”
The agreement comes along with additional benefits for City Colleges of Chicago students. They will receive support services from Valparaiso University early on in their transfer process to help them acclimate to their new school. There are four scholarships these transfer students will potentially be eligible for: the Associate Degree Completion Scholarship, which awards $4,000; the City Colleges Beacon Scholarship, which awards $5,000 per year for two years to students who have at least a 3.0 GPA; Phi Theta Kappa, which awards $4,000; and the Transfer Merit Scholarship, which awards between $18,000 and $25,000 depending on the student’s GPA. The Associate Degree Completion Scholarship and Phi Theta Kappa scholarships cannot be combined. Additionally, students who are accepted to Valparaiso University via this guaranteed admission agreement are also eligible for a 30% tuition discount if they opt to pursue an MBA at Valparaiso.
For more information about Valparaiso University, visit the school’s website.