Higher graduation rates and top GPAs: B.C. Council on Admission and Transfer report
When College of the Rockies students transfer to university to complete a degree, they are among the most successful transfer students in B.C., according to a new report from the British Columbia Council on Admission and Transfer (BCCAT).
The “Profile and Performance” report states that College of the Rockies transfer students have an 87 per cent degree-completion rate, the highest of any transfer institution in the province. They are also among the top-performing students academically, with grade point averages (GPAs) in the top two or three of all B.C. public post-secondary institutions, after transfer and upon graduation.
“The BCCAT report proves the value of starting at the College and completing two years of coursework before transferring to a university,” said Darrell Bethune, dean of business and university arts and science programs. “And students love the more personal experience at College of the Rockies.”
More and more students are understanding the benefits of starting their university education at a college before transferring to a university. Close to one-third of B.C. students at UBC-Vancouver and University of Victoria are transfer students, and more than half of B.C. students at Simon Fraser University have transferred from another institution.
“The success of our transfer students shows that it’s a great deal to start close to home in a more personal college environment, and students know a good deal when they see one,” Bethune said.
College of the Rockies offers many academic programs for university-bound students, including the new two-year Associate Degree in Environmental Science, which transfers as the first two years of a four-year science degree. Certificate, diploma, and associate degree options are available in either Arts or Science, as well as specialized university level programs in Kinesiology, Tourism Management, Recreation Management, Hospitality Management, Accounting, Marketing, and Business Management. The College also has longstanding partnership degree programs in nursing and education.
According to the BCCAT report, more than half of all College of the Rockies transfer students complete at least 55 credits of coursework (close to two full academic years) before they transfer.
“We can assure students that going to the College is a strong investment in your academic undergraduate degree, and a very popular option provincially,” Bethune said. “Across the B.C. system, the average college student transfers 45 to 50 credits to a receiving institution, and College of the Rockies’ pattern is the same.”
Kendall Plant completed two years of science courses at the College before transferring to UVIC to complete her bachelor’s degree in microbiology. She believes starting at the College helped her to succeed.
“Attending the College for the first couple of years of my education made me a more confident learner,” she said. “The smaller class sizes and more intimate setting allowed me to discover more about myself and my style of learning before attending a much larger institution.”
College of the Rockies also has dual admission agreements with the University of Victoria and University of Lethbridge which provide students the opportunity to complete up to two-years of credits at the College while also being considered a student at either university. Upon finishing their coursework at the College, students then move seamlessly into their guaranteed spot at university.
Learn more about College of the Rockies University Arts and Sciences program, and Dual Admission agreements.
About College of the Rockies
For more than 40 years, College of the Rockies has provided post-secondary education that meets the needs and aspirations of the people, industry and businesses of our region. Each year, we welcome more than 10,000 full-time and part-time students into a full range of programs, including: skilled trades, university studies, adult upgrading, early childhood education, health and human services, business, office administration, tourism, hospitality, recreation, fire services, continuing education and contract training. Through smaller class sizes, highly-personalized instruction and dedicated support services, our students are primed to succeed in the job market, or in the next stage of their academic journey.
Media Contact:
Heather Jackson
Manager, Communications and Marketing
College of the Rockies
250-489-8258
jackson@cotr.bc.ca