Guaranteed transfer partnership announced between Henry Ford College and Wayne State University

This past December, Wayne State University and Henry Ford College announced a new partnership during a ceremony at the Tierney Alumni House. The two schools now have a guaranteed transfer partnership, which will expand access to college degrees for students who will now have more paths to economic prosperity and meaningful careers.

The Henry Ford College Learn4ward and Wayne State Transfer Pathways program will let students who meet the qualifications to attain two college degrees while maximizing the credits they earn while completing their associate degree. The program is part of Michigan’s 60x30 goal, which looks to increase the number of Michigan residents who have a college degree or professional credential to 60% in the next seven years. The idea is that an educated workforce will make it possible to not only sustain, but build on the state’s competitiveness and prosperity, while retaining talent within the state.

The presidents of Wayne State University and Henry Ford College, M. Roy Wilson and Russell Kavalhuna, respectively, signed the agreement at the event, and spoke on the impact it would have on the region’s economic growth as well as the lives of the students who will qualify. Other business leaders from the state attended the event such as State Representatives Erin Byrnes, Alabas Farhad, and Tyrone Carter, State Senator Sylvia Santana, Detroit Chamber of Commerce CEO Sandy Baruah, and more. 

The agreement will provide the opportunity for students to begin their post-high school education at Henry Ford College, and then transfer to Wayne State University with a seamless and guaranteed admission. Students who complete this program will graduate with both an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree.

Wayne State University’s president M. Roy Wilson was quoted by Today@Wayne about the partnership, saying, “WSU has had a longstanding partnership with Henry Ford College and this new agreement, which enhances the collaboration between our two institutions, will benefit our students and contribute to the State’s competitiveness. We are offering students, including non-traditional and adult learners, high quality education and seamless pathways to earn two degrees, which will set them on a trajectory of economic advancement and social mobility. At the same time, we are preparing a pool of graduates that will support the talent needs of local employers, city and state agencies, be it in areas such as electrical technology, computer science, public health, or urban planning.”

Part of the features of the program is a web-based tool that will allow students to navigate the available courses between the two schools so they can plan an uninterrupted and efficient path from Henry Ford College to Wayne State University. The close partnership between the schools will mean that students will only have one enrollment interface to navigate between the two schools.

The Wayne State Transfer Pathway gives Henry Ford College students a roadmap to completing the degree requirements of both schools in four years in a way that should minimize, or entirely eliminate, loss of class credit. 

Henry Ford College students will get automatic and guaranteed admission to Wayne State University as juniors as long as they earn a minimum of 60 credit hours with a GPA of at least 2.5 while earning their associate degree. Students will be eligible after they graduate from any Henry Ford College associate degree program.

Other benefits students will have available include free access to recreational facilities, athletic events, and cultural events at both schools, free career services such as internships, co-ops, and more, Wayne State University scholarship opportunities, a coordinated effort at a connected experience for students between the two schools, a three-year tuition freeze at Henry Ford College, advising and support designed for students taking this seamless transfer path, and more.

Henry Ford College President Russ Kavalhuna spoke more on the collaboration between the two schools, saying, “This collaboration is the future of higher education serving students and communities. We are particularly excited to partner with Wayne State because they have become Michigan’s leader in social mobility, which perfectly aligns with our goal of helping students build better lives. We at HFC are proud to have the most Detroit Promise students and the most high school students earning college credit of any college in Michigan. With this agreement, students in these groups can see themselves on a path to a life-changing Wayne State degree. And, with each student’s success on this path, we build sustainable communities and enhance the region’s economy and standard of living. This is a Win, Win, Win, for students, communities, and the economy.”

More information about Henry Ford College can be found at the school’s website, and more information about Wayne State University can be found at the school’s website.