WARSAW — Two local colleges have collaborated in a partnership designed to give students an early milestone and encouragement to continue with their education.

Grace College and Ivy Tech Community College have agreed to a process that will facilitate the awarding of an associate degree to previous Ivy Tech students who have transferred to Grace prior to completion of an associate degree. The process, called a reverse transfer agreement, allows students to obtain credential while completing courses toward their bachelor’s degree.

“Ivy Tech and Grace share the common mission of helping our students succeed, and reverse transfer becomes a first credential for many of those students along their career pathway,” said Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann. “Research also suggests that students who receive a degree through reverse transfer are even more likely to complete their baccalaureate.”

An associate degree is an important educational milestone in career and educational advancement. Earning an associate degree can contribute to earning potential in the workplace and helps individuals become more marketable for career opportunities.

“We are very pleased to partner with Ivy Tech to make a post-secondary degree available to more students, said Grace College President Bill Katip. “It’s our hope that by earning an associate degree, students will be more motivated to continue their educational attainment and (become) more marketable in the future.”

Students must have completed a minimum of 15 credit hours from Ivy Tech and be a currently enrolled Grace College undergraduate with at least 75 total college credit hours to be eligible for reverse transfer. Upon review of their official transcript, an Ivy Tech associate degree will be conferred to qualified students.