Metropolitan Community College, Avila University announce guaranteed, full-tuition scholarships for 50 students per year, low-cost pathway to bachelor's degree

Media are invited to attend a signing ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at Avila University. See first paragraph below for details.

by Darren Roubinek

Kansas City, MO (01/20/2023) — Metropolitan Community College and Avila University will sign an agreement at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, creating high-quality, low-cost pathways to obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree. The brief ceremony, led by MCC Chancellor Kimberly Beatty and Avila President James Burkee, will be held in the Grand Lobby of Avila's Goppert Performing Arts Center, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri.

Under this agreement, Avila will commit to providing $13.7 million in guaranteed, full-tuition scholarships between 2023-2029 for up to 50 MCC graduates annually, based on financial need, plus automatic admission to Avila for most students graduating with an associate degree from MCC. Should they choose to earn their master's degree, Avila will also offer a discounted pathway to graduate degree programs for these MCC students.

This agreement will enable students to transfer credits seamlessly between MCC and Avila to obtain a bachelor's or master's in as few credit hours as possible.

"When we can ease the burden by making the transfer to a four-year institution easier, that translates to fewer additional courses for completion and less debt load for our students," Dr. Beatty said. "We are incredibly proud to partner with Avila, which - like MCC - serves many first-generation college students and underserved populations who will benefit greatly from this agreement."

"I am excited about what this investment means for the students and their families, as well as for the Avila family," said Dr. Burkee. "Avila is the university of student opportunity in Kansas City. Making Avila the most transfer-friendly university for all MCC students while investing in a cohort of 50 new MCC scholars each year demonstrates this commitment. We are thrilled to add so many ambitious and determined students to our community."

In most cases, students who bring an associate in arts, associate in science or associate in applied science degree from MCC will enter Avila as juniors, and the first 60 MCC credit hours will be applied toward an Avila bachelor's degree. Depending on the degree program, some students can transfer up to 90 hours of MCC credit to Avila.

Avila University, a Catholic University founded and inspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, provides undergraduate and graduate education in the liberal arts and professional studies, preparing lifelong learners who make meaningful contributions to the global community.

Metropolitan Community College is Kansas City's oldest public institution of higher education and educates about 20,000 students annually through credit and noncredit courses and business services. MCC is one college with five campuses - MCC-Blue River, MCC-Longview, MCC-Maple Woods, MCC-Online and MCC-Penn Valley. The MCC mission: Preparing students, serving communities, creating opportunities for all.

Avila University

Metropolitan Community College, Avila University announce guaranteed, full-tuition scholarships for 50 students per year, low-cost pathway to bachelor's degree

Media are invited to attend a signing ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at Avila University. See first paragraph below for details.

Avila University

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