The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, UW-Washington County and Moraine Park Technical College have entered into a first-of-its-kind partnership that will allow Washington County residents to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree at the Moraine Park and UW-Washington County campuses in West Bend.

UW–Washington County and Moraine Park students can earn credits toward both their associate and bachelor’s degrees simultaneously. With an emphasis in Leadership and Organizational Studies, UW Oshkosh’s  BAS program is designed specifically to serve adult nontraditional students and will be delivered at Moraine Park via technology, at UW–Washington County and online. Students can earn their associate degree at a Moraine Park campus and then attend classes at UW–Washington County to fulfill the general education course requirements necessary to earn their bachelor’s degree from UW Oshkosh.

“It is especially important in our current economic times to encourage students to go on to obtain their four-year degree,” said UW Oshkosh Interim Provost E. Alan Hartman. “The collaboration allows students to have greater access to a four-year degree through the two strong educational institutions in Washington County. We are committed to providing new local avenues of entry for Wisconsin’s college-bound. We want to make sure students have readily available access to a four-year degree.”

UW–Washington County Dean and Campus Executive Officer David L. Nixon, Moraine Park President Gayle Hytrek and Hartman signed the pact on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Moraine Park’s West Bend campus.

“This is the first time three of Wisconsin’s higher education systems have come together with this type of an agreement in the state,” said Dr. Hytrek of Moraine Park. “It provides our students with a clear pathway from technical college to a bachelor’s degree. This agreement helps us to fulfill our students’ dreams of obtaining a bachelor’s degree.”

Dr. Nixon of UW–Washington County noted the collaboration is especially beneficial to nontraditional students. “Its flexibility allows students in Washington County to pursue a four-year degree without having to leave the county,” he said.