Bemidji State University and Northland Community & Technical College have created a dual admissions program, NorthernConnect, which allows students who complete associate’s degrees at the college to transfer and continue their educations barrier-free at Bemidji State.

NorthernConnect, Northern Minnesota’s Pathway to Higher Education, allows NCTC students who complete associate of arts, associate of science, or associate of applied science degrees to be automatically admitted into BSU. Students must also have completed 24 or more transferrable credits with a grade-point average of at least 2.5. NCTC students who transfer to BSU through this program will join the university as juniors.

“For some time, BSU has been embarking on a program to extend its academic offerings to students across the state of Minnesota,” said Dr. Richard A. Hanson, BSU president. “NorthernConnect is an historic partnership, and if it is as successful as we believe it will be, this promises to be a model that we, and others, will replicate in order to benefit even more students like those at NCTC.”

The program will begin with transfer pathways in three program areas, including business, criminal justice and nursing.

“This is a major milestone for both Northland Community and Technical College and for Bemidji State University,” said Dr. Martin Tadlock, BSU provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. “Beginning this coming fall, current and incoming NCTC students can look forward to a well-defined and orderly transition into a bachelor’s program at BSU — where they will be welcomed with open arms.”

Tadlock said that, in addition to guaranteed admission into BSU and an accelerated admissions process, NCTC students participating in NorthernConnect would enjoy a variety of additional benefits as well.

NorthernConnect participants will not be charged an application fee at BSU, and they receive a BSU student ID card that allows them to participate in a limited array of BSU student-life activities while enrolled at NCTC. Sophomore students at NCTC also will have access to BSU academic advisors once per semester.

“While transfer from NCTC to BSU and to other schools has certainly been possible in the past, NorthernConnect is designed to make that experience as seamless and stress-free as possible,” Tadlock said.

There are no additional fees for NCTC students to join NorthernConnect. Students who are new to NCTC can mark appropriate sections of their applications to indicate a desire to join NorthernConnect, and current NCTC students can opt into the program at any time.

Contact
• Kari Kantack Miller, assistant director of admissions and enrollment, transfer specialist, Bemidji State University; (218) 755-2602, kkantack@bemidjistate.edu
• Lisa Bottom, registrar, Northland Community & Technical College; (218) 683-8544, lisa.bottem@northlandcollege.edu

Links
• Northland Community & Technical College
• NorthernConnect homepage at NCTC
• NorthernConnect application (PDF download)