Metro State and Community College of Aurora (CCA) will sign the memorandum of understanding this Friday establishing the 2+2 plan at CCA.

The 2+2 plan offers students the opportunity to continue their education for two years and earn a Metro State bachelor’s degree in certain disciplines at the community college where they obtained a two-year associate’s degree. The courses are the same as those offered at Metro State and are taught by Metro State professors.

CCA is the second institution in the Colorado Community College System to launch a 2+2 plan with Metro State; the Westminster campus of Front Range Community College (FRCC) was the first. (To read more go to http://www.mscd.edu/~collcom/artman/publish/2plus2_twv5040308.shtml.)

Biology and psychology are the two majors that will be offered starting this fall semester as 2+2 programs at CCA. Marketing, management, and criminal justice and criminology are the three majors offered at FRCC.

One significant aspect of Metro State President Stephen Jordan’s drive to establish the 2+2 plan at community colleges throughout the metro area, and eventually the state, is that they expand the opportunity for students of color to earn a bachelor’s degree. Nearly 45 percent of CCA’s students are of color; that figure is 18 percent at FRCC.

“Many of these students are working and raising families while trying to earn their degree,” Jordan says, adding that a significant number lack a family history of experience with college. “Our goal with the 2+2 plan is to eliminate some of the barriers these students face. “

For more information about the 2+2 plan go to http://www.mscd.edu/admissions/twoplustwo/index.shtml.