PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria’s two institutions of higher education are partnering up to turn Cougars into Braves.
Bradley University and Illinois Central College on Tuesday announced Path2BU, a transfer partnership program between the two institutions. The program lets ICC students who complete an associate degree transfer to Bradley to continue their education as a junior.
Students who take part in the program can receive a streamlined transfer credit evaluation, and have access to advising and communication support.
Eligible students can also receive a scholarship if they transfer to Bradley with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7. The scholarships are last dollar, and were funded by a $1 million grant from the Gilmore Foundation.
Bradley President James Shadid says the partnership is “critical.”
“We’re neighbors, we both have the same goals, ambitions, and vision about higher education, and it just makes sense that their students would become Bradley students,” Shadid said.
Interim ICC President Bruce Budde says it’s a program that can benefit the region.
“These students that come to ICC, then go to Bradley, will stay in our community,” Budde said. “We’re keeping that talent within our community. It really helps the economic vibrancy of the community overall and the whole region.”
Budde says former ICC President, Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey, deserves a lot of credit for the partnership. Quirk-Bailey championed workforce development programs and expanded opportunities during her tenure leading ICC.
Comments