WMU and KCC Forge Agreement to Streamline Honors Student Transfer
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan University (WMU) and Kellogg Community College (KCC) formalized a new agreement on Wednesday, Oct. 1, designed to recognize and facilitate the transfer of high-achieving KCC students into WMU’s Lee Honors College. The agreement establishes an automatic invitation pathway for qualified KCC students.
Under the new arrangement, KCC students who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher and successfully completed at least 26 college credits will receive an automatic invitation to join the Lee Honors College upon admission to WMU.
WMU President Russ Kavalhuna and KCC President Dr. Paul R. Watson signed the agreement during a ceremony held at the Lee Honors College, attended by administrators and faculty from both institutions.
“WMU is honored to build on our established partnership with KCC by creating a clear path for Bruin honors students to complete their degrees at WMU’s Lee Honors College,” stated Kavalhuna. “This agreement sets high standards for honors education and student success, while expanding pathways to Experience-Driven Learning-an education that equips them to lead meaningful careers and fulfilling lives.”
The Lee honors College currently serves over 2,000 students across WMU’s seven academic colleges, offering benefits such as early course enrollment, experiential learning opportunities through travel-based courses, smaller class sizes, honors thesis publication support, dedicated programming, and scholarship opportunities.
Dr. Paul R.Watson emphasized the collaborative nature of the agreement, saying, “This new agreement between two longtime institutional partners will ensure students are prosperous and supported as they finish their honors program at KCC and transition to the honors program at WMU. We are proud to work with WMU to uphold rigorous academic standards and highlight a pathway for sustained excellence.”
The partnership extends beyond the automatic invitation, with KCC continuing to offer challenging honors courses and advising students planning to transfer to WMU to connect with Lee Honors College staff. Representatives from both institutions will convene annually to review the agreement and address any curricular updates.
this honors agreement builds upon existing collaborations between KCC and WMU. In 2023, the institutions renewed an institutional articulation agreement, alongside a series of program-specific articulation agreements, all aimed at maximizing credit transfer and minimizing duplicated coursework for KCC students continuing their education at WMU. these agreements remain in effect.
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