Published: January 06, 2009 10:16 pm      

JCJC Partnership with Franklin University: Successful

Special to The Star



ELLISVILLE – Options.

That’s what the partnership between Franklin University and Jones County Junior College provides in benefits for students. Administrators from both colleges agree it has been a very successful partnership.

One year ago, the Columbus, Ohio-based University and Jones offered students an option to get their bachelor’s degree on-line and without leaving Mississippi.

“The partnership is simple,” said Jacquelyne Barnett, JCJC counselor.

“Franklin will accept 84 credit hours from Jones, which allows students to take many of their third year classes either on-line or in a traditional classroom here at Jones, paying the Jones tuition rate," Barnett said. "After completing coursework at Jones, the remaining classes are taken solely on-line through Franklin University, at their tuition rate. However, Jones students pursuing a degree through Franklin do not have to pay out-of-state tuition, and financial aid is also available through Franklin.”

There are 16 on-line degree majors at Franklin, including many business-related majors such as business administration, accounting, and management, and Franklin is in the process of adding some additional majors.

Director of Franklin University’s Community College Alliance Bill Chan also describes the benefits for students as a good economic option.

“Students can keep working and get their bachelor’s degree on-line," Chan said. "They don’t have to spend money on gas getting to class and they have more time for their family or work.”

That’s exactly what Chan explains is happening.

“Non-traditional students, especially, are taking advantage of the opportunity to get more education to earn a higher degree or get a new degree,” he said.

Jones student Latasha Peters is like many of the students who signed up for the Franklin University transfer plan. She has a family and a job, but wants more career options.

“With my bachelor’s degree I will have more options," Peters said. "I am exploring possibilities within my current job and would like to be prepared for any door that opens in the future. I couldn’t think about this before because I didn’t have a lot of extra time to spend on my education. This option was the best option for me.”

The other bonus, according to Chan, is the fact Franklin University accepts every technical program credit. Students who have already earned their associate of applied science degree can build on that degree.

“AAS graduates can earn their bachelor’s degree without having to re-take classes," he said. "They can achieve this by combining almost three years of Jones County Junior College courses with a minimum of 40 semester credit hours on-line through Franklin.”

Peters said that because all of her credits transferred, she didn’t have to waste time and money re-taking classes she already completed at Jones.

“That was a huge reason why I took this option," she said. "Taking classes on-line allows me to be flexible and I can do my course work when it is convenient for me.”

For more information about the Jones-Franklin University Transfer program, contact Jacquelyne Barnett at JCJC at (601) 477-4083 or Bill Chan at Franklin University at (888) 341-6237 or visit www.alliance.franklin.edu for a complete list of majors and information.