BEMIDJI—A new program will allow students from Northland Community and Technical College to transfer to BSU without application fees, long wait times or concerns about getting in.

Outlined in a release Friday, the NorthernConnect program offers a bridge for NCTC students who have earned an associate degree, to pursue a bachelor degree at BSU. It will grant “guaranteed and accelerated admission” to students who graduate from the two NCTC campuses in Thief River Falls and East Grand Forks.

“It provides options,” said Carey Castle, NCTC vice president of academic and student affairs. “Students get the basic general education courses out of the way while living at home or nearby. Parents take advantage of two-year tuition and living costs.”

The schools are also working to award reverse transfer degrees—an associate degree awarded to a student after he or she has transferred—to students who have gone on to BSU.

The NorthernConnect agreement will be signed Tuesday when officials from BSU and NCTC meet on NCTC’s Thief River Falls campus at 10 a.m.

In addition to one- and two-year degrees, NCTC offers diploma certification, workforce training and continuing education programs.