The MCCCD-NAU
Connection is a partnership formed to support quality undergraduate
education offered by Northern Arizona University and Maricopa County Community
College District colleges like Rio Salado.
The partnership is coordinated through the MCCCD Center for
Curriculum and Transfer Articulation and allows Rio Salado College students to
transfer up to 90 community college credit hours toward a four-year degree from
NAU.
“Students can be intimidated by the thought of getting a
four-year degree,” said David Hall, director of advisement services at Rio
Salado College. “They think it will be too expensive or that it will take too
much time. That’s why creative partnerships like the NAU Connection are so
important.”
“Students can work with a community college advisor and an
NAU advisor simultaneously and develop a clear pathway to completing both the
associate and then the bachelor’s degree, saving both time and money,” Hall
said.
After completing an associate degree from Rio Salado and up
to 30 additional qualifying credits, students can take their upper-division NAU
courses through any NAU extended campus location, online or in-person at the
Communiversity in Surprise.
“The Connection partnership creates an accessible pathway to
a four-year degree,” said Felicia Ramirez-Perez, assistant director of
advisement at Rio Salado College.
“Students can take up to 90 credit hours at a community college price
point and then finish up the last 30 at NAU.”
She added, “Not only are the community college classes less
expensive, but in most cases they are also available online. This means
students don’t have to pay for gas, parking or child care. They can even continue
to work full time if they want.”
Qualified
students participating in the MCCCD-NAU Connection partnership can also
take advantage of two unique scholarship opportunities. The NAU Extended
Campuses Department offers a $1,000 scholarship to MCCCD transfer students. A
$2,000 Connect2NAU scholarship is also available to all students transferring
to NAU programs in Flagstaff or at extended campuses.
Students interested in learning more about the MCCCD-NAU
Connection are invited to attend an online advisement event hosted by Rio
Salado College and NAU to be held February 21 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visit
the Rio Salado College Advisement website for details.
