Southeast Missouri State University recently signed an agreement with Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York City, allowing the transfer of BMCC associate of science in theater graduates into its Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, the university announced Tuesday.

Southeast Missouri State University president Carlos Vargas-Aburto and BMCC president Antonio Perez made the action official Thursday.

Students transferring to Southeast under its musical theater option will be affected beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year.

�We are thrilled to partner with Borough of Manhattan Community College not only on our Transfer Mentor Program but also on our Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre to help BMCC students complete a pathway to a four-year degree in musical theatre,� Vargas said in a news release. �We hope BMCC theatre graduates find a path to future success in musical theatre through Southeast.�

Rhonda Weller-Stilson, director of Southeast�s school of visual and performing arts, said she also is pleased about the diversity of the BMCC student body and the value their students will add to Southeast�s musical-theater program, the release stated.

�We hope there�s a lot more cross collaboration in the future,� Weller-Stilson said.

Students at BMCC would require an additional 66 credit hours at Southeast to complete their Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, music theatre option, interim provost at Southeast Tamela Randolph said in the release.

The Transfer Mentor Program would benefit in transitioning BMCC associate of science in theater graduates to Southeast, the statement said.

The university launched the program last year with hopes of assisting community college students �plan a pathway to success, enhancing their transition to Southeast early on to complete their degree.�

BMCC students who participate will be assigned a mentor throughout that time, the university said, offering them individual support as first-semester community college students at Southeast.

The university has already partnered with Jefferson College, Mineral Area College, Shawnee Community College and Three Rivers College as participants in the program, the release stated.

According to Southeast�s statement, this is the second agreement the two presidents have signed. The first agreement to join Southeast�s Transfer Mentor Program was signed in February at the Hispanic Educational Technology Services Conference.

BMCC is located in New York City, and its student body represents 155 countries.

jhartwig@semissourian.com

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