Heartland introduces “fast path” to earn a business degree
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[April 11, 2017]
NORMAL
- A new program for the fall 2017 semester will help working adults
quickly earn an associate degree from Heartland Community College.
Fast Path is an accelerated, post-traditional program that allows
students to earn an Associate in Arts degree in Business while
taking classes part-time and completing in two years.
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Selected students for Fast Path will work as a cohort
to complete eight-week courses that take place two nights per week
in both online and hybrid formats. To be considered for the program,
students need to be at least 25 years old, have a high school
diploma or GED, and achieve required placement levels in literacy
and math.
Several other community colleges in Illinois offer similar programs
to Fast Path and according to Vice President for Learning and
Student Success Rick Pearce, the program fills a community need.
“Trying to go to school while working full-time is a challenge. This
program gives working adults the opportunity and flexibility to earn
a degree quickly,” he said. “In addition to having dedicated faculty
and staff along the way, students will have the support of their
cohort throughout the program’s entirety.”
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Pearce adds that Fast Path is designed to prepare graduates to
transfer and aligns with programs at four-year institutions such as Illinois
State, Lincoln and Western. This kind of model, known as 2+2, lets students earn
their associate degree at Heartland in two years and seamlessly transfer to a
bachelor’s degree program. It also has the potential to become a 2+2+2 model if
a student wanted to continue on and earn a Master’s in Business Administration.
Those interested in Heartland’s Fast Path program can learn more at
heartland.edu/fastpath. Open registration for fall is now open. Applications for
the program are due Tuesday, August 1 and 22 students will be selected for the
first fall 2017 cohort.
[Becky Gropp] |