ASU Partners with Central Arizona College, Offers Bachelor Degree Options in Pinal County
By Meenah Ricon, ASU Media Relations Officer
Arizona State University (ASU) in partnership with the Central Arizona College (CAC), Corporate Center, will offer undergraduate bachelor degrees for students in Pinal County beginning fall 2018.
ASU, Central Arizona College and Pinal County community leaders collaboratively identified degrees that will provide students with expertise needed for careers in Pinal County. ASU@Pinal will begin offering a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Leadership – majors that will address Pinal County’s workforce development initiatives.
Through ASU@Pinal, ASU is providing a high-quality, affordable and accessible undergraduate education to Arizona residents, regardless of their geographical location. A student enrolled full-time in ASU@Pinal in the 2018-19 academic year can expect to pay a lower tuition rate lower than that of a four-year degree at one of the main ASU campuses. Additionally, students may qualify for financial aid awards such as grants and scholarships.
Maria Hesse, Vice Provost for ASU Academic Partnerships and a former community college president, explained that the partnership plays to the strengths of both institutions.
“CAC provides high quality college programs in beautiful facilities, with wonderful faculty,” she said. “Students then finish their work through ASU, graduating with a degree from a top tier research university, which is highly marketable. By sharing resources, we can offer a degree at a lower cost, something appreciated by parents and community leaders.”
ASU@Pinal will enable students to seamlessly transition from CAC’s associate degree program into an ASU bachelor degree program. Students attending ASU@Pinal complete lower-division courses through CAC and transition to upper-division courses offered by ASU. Courses will be taught by ASU faculty, some of whom will be community college faculty and professionals in Pinal County who are qualified to teach university level courses.
The two degree programs will prepare students to be future leaders in business, nonprofit and government agencies in the Pinal community, as well as various career fields that will benefit from the knowledge and skills that these students will possess upon graduation.
“This partnership is part of the overarching initiatives that address the workforce needs of Pinal County,” Jani Attebery, Academic Dean for Workforce Development, said. “It will serve students, parents, and community, as continued access to higher education is essential to developing a knowledgeable and skilled workforce.”
For admission information please visit, asu.edu/apply or schedule a visit with a CAC advisor to discuss these learning options (520) 494-5410.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.
About Central Arizona College
For more than 48 years, Central Arizona College has been serving and educating the diverse communities of Pinal County. With five campuses and three centers located strategically throughout the county, CAC provides accessible, educational, economic, cultural, and personal growth opportunities for those of all ages.