Engineering students could save $31K through Front Range, Colorado School of Mines program
A new partnership will allow students pursuing degrees from Colorado School of Mines to take their first two years of classes at Front Range Community College, saving more than $31,000 in tuition and fees, and earn an Associate in Engineering Science degree in the process.
Students accepted into the new Mines Academy at FRCC can take math, science and engineering courses at any of the school’s three campuses that will apply to their chosen degree program at Colorado School of Mines while earning a two-year associate degree, allowing them to seamlessly transfer with the opportunity to earn guaranteed admission into any four-year program at Mines, officials of both schools said in a news release.
The annual cost of tuition and fees for students in FRCC's engineering programs is about $15,500 a year less than what in-state students pay at Colorado School of Mines, according to information on each school’s website.
“With a student body that is 48% first generation and 34% students of color, FRCC is proud to provide historically underserved students access and support on their path toward careers in engineering,” FRCC President Colleen Simpson said in the news release. “Our Mines Academy will give FRCC’s diverse student body a clear path to pursue their bachelor’s degrees at Colorado School of Mines. By giving community college students a way to transfer seamlessly into the degree programs at Mines, we’re helping to make these fields more inclusive and equitable for all budding engineers.”
During their time at FRCC, students in the program will meet regularly with advisors from both colleges and have the opportunity to attend co-curricular events, including athletics and career and professional speakers and presentations, at both schools. FRCC has campuses in Fort Collins, Longmont and Westminster. Colorado School of Mines is located in Golden.
More: Pathways from community colleges to Colorado State University ease transfers, reduce cost
Those who complete the required coursework while meeting a certain grade-point average and participating in co-curricular events will have the opportunity to earn guaranteed admission to Mines.
To be eligible, students must have graduated from high school, have completed or be taking Calculus I and have declared a major at FRCC in general engineering, according to an informational page with a link to a program application on FRCC’s website, frontrange.edu.
“This program is intentionally designed to set students up for success as they pursue a pathway to Mines,” Colorado School of Mines Provost Rick Holz said in release. “They’ll gain access to wrap-around support services, including career preparation and professional development, academic advising from both institutions and exposure to life as an Oredigger.
“Students who engage in this educational opportunity will find themselves not only academically prepared but also empowered with a holistic toolkit that extends beyond the classroom, ensuring a well-rounded and successful transition to Mines and beyond into their chosen STEM field.”
FRCC is the largest community college in the state with more than 21,100 students, a school spokesperson said Wednesday. There were 479 students in FRCC’s Associate in Engineering Degree programs last spring, program coordinator Christy Wallert told the Coloradoan previously. Mines has about 7,100 students this fall, according to its website, mines.edu.
The FRCC Mines Academy is the second of its kind in the state and is modeled after an existing Mines Academy at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood.
The new program is an expansion of a transfer agreement that FRCC and other schools in the Colorado Community College system already had in place with Mines for its general engineering degree program. FRCC also has engineering transfer agreements in place with Colorado State University and the University of Colorado in both civil and mechanical engineering.
Additional transfer agreements specific to FRCC include hospitality management and fermentation science with CSU, nutrition and dietetics with Metropolitan State University of Denver and American Sign Language and deaf studies with University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. In all, FRCC has transfer agreements with 29 different four-year colleges and universities, school officials said.
Reporter Kelly Lyell covers education, breaking news, some sports and other topics of interest for the Coloradoan. Contact him at kellylyell@coloradoan.com, twitter.com/KellyLyell or facebook.com/KellyLyell.news.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: FRCC partners with Colorado School of Mines on new transfer program
