Agreement signed between University, Sierra College

Over the summer, officials from Sacramento State and Sierra College announced new agreements on student transfer programs and other projects at a meeting at the Sierra College campus.

In addition, the leaders pledged to develop additional joint uses of facilities and to work together to ensure their programs meet the evolving workforce needs of the region. They also provided updates on plans for the future of public higher education in Placer County, including the expansion of Sacramento State courses offered at the Sierra College Roseville Gateway Campus, the building of a Sacramento State campus near Roseville and a new Sacramento State MBA program for executives that begins this fall with classes hosted by Pride Industries.

The new Memorandum of Understanding includes the following efforts designed to help students meet their academic and career goals:

• Increase the number of Sacramento State upper-division courses taught at the Sierra College Gateway campus. This began as a pilot program in spring 2004.
• Expand the new Business Administration and AA-One Business Administration degrees at Sierra College, which tie seamlessly to the business program at Sacramento State. Students who earn these degrees progress more quickly to a four-year degree, whether they transfer immediately or choose to enter the workforce and pursue a four-year degree later. The “AA-One” version allows students to take one intensive course at a time.
• Expand the new Liberal Arts AA-One Degree and new Transfer Studies Degree programs at Sierra College. These degrees fulfill all lower-division general education requirements for those transferring to Sacramento State.
• Develop a much more efficient and clear pattern of classes at Sierra College for those wishing to transfer to engineering programs at Sacramento State.

The experiences of students like Jason L. Gutierrez, a 34-year-old father of four who recently returned to college, convinced educators of the need to expand these types of programs.

“Because of the AA One Business Administration course offered at Sierra College, I feel like I am preparing for a real-life corporate position,” Gutierrez says. “I have also developed a great relationship with other students within this program. Most of us are working adults and have family obligations. We share the same life stories and have the unique opportunity of completing a college degree together.

“Thankfully, the AA-One program started my journey towards a college degree and I hope to continue my education at Sacramento State.”

The MOU formalizes an ongoing and close relationship between Sierra College and Sacramento State. Sierra College is the second-largest source of transfer students for Sacramento State, with 439 students transferring last fall.