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(L-R) HCC Provost Dr. Rick
Pearce, Beth Craig with State Farm, Lincoln College VP for
Academic Affairs Dr. Donna Bradley, HCC President Dr. Keith
Cornille, and Lincoln College President Dr. David Gerlach. |
Lincoln College and Heartland
Community College Announce New Articulation Agreement
New Agreement Helps Working Adults at
State Farm Insurance Finish Their Degree
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[June 18, 2021]
Heartland Community College (HCC) and Lincoln College have
signed a new articulation agreement, announcing a partnership that
grants HCC students and alumni the ability to complete their
bachelor’s degree through the Lincoln College Accelerated Bridge to
Education (ABE) Program.
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The agreement also articulates a pathway for
employees of State Farm® to transfer prior learning assessment (PLA)
credits awarded by Heartland for their training programs into the
baccalaureate degree program at Lincoln College.
Heartland Community College (HCC) has formalized Prior Learning
Assessment (PLA) credit for State Farm Custom Care Center (CCC)
employees. The credit recognizes learning that is completed outside
of the classroom and can allow a student to enroll in more advanced
courses without some prerequisites. Lincoln College will accept PLA
credit toward a bachelor’s degree for transfer students, ensuring a
smooth transition from HCC to Lincoln College for students utilizing
PLA credit.
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State Farm will facilitate their CCC employees in requesting the PLA
credit from Heartland. As with any PLA credit, State Farm CCC
students must provide documentation demonstrating learning
equivalent to the outcomes of the course.
“These free college credits for State Farm CCC employees are a
win-win,” said Steve Florence, CCC assistant vice president. “After
meeting eligibility criteria, employees may earn college credits for
training they took while working. This saves them time and money and
can jump-start their college career.
“State Farm can better attract and retain employees. We advocate for
these employee's educational and professional development. The
result is a pool of candidates primed for future promotions as well
as degree completion.”
PLA credit will apply toward an Associate of Arts (AA) degree at
Heartland, which represents the first two years of study for
students pursing a bachelor’s degree.
“Heartland recognizes student learning gained both
inside and outside of the classroom,” said Rick Pearce, HCC Provost
and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “We know that in some
instances, such as with military training, on-the-job learning
translates into what we would consider as transferable credit. Other
PLA is developed on a case-by-case basis. This agreement with State
Farm establishes an assessment processes to apply workplace skills
and training directly toward a student’s academic pathway.”
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Heartland Community College graduates can transfer into bachelor
degree programs in Organizational Leadership, Business Management, Criminal
Justice, Health Services Administration, Liberal Arts, Entrepreneurship, and
Supply Chain & Logistics Management to Lincoln College’s Normal Campus or into
one of the twelve degree programs offered at the Lincoln Campus.
"We are very pleased to have Heartland Community College as an ongoing education
partner,” Lincoln College President David Gerlach said. “We are confident this
will be an excellent option for many students, including State Farm employees
looking to complete their degree.”
The Accelerated Bridge to Education program is designed for adult learners and
is offered on the Lincoln College campus in Normal; on the main Lincoln College
campus in Lincoln; on the Illinois Valley Community College campus in Oglesby;
on the campus of Illinois Central College in Peoria. The State Farm Foundation
helps support lifelong learners by providing a grant to Lincoln College for
student scholarships.
Students take one five-week course at a time, which combines classroom
instruction with online learning that is equivalent to a traditional full
semester course. Nine start dates are offered each year, giving adult students
greater flexibility to balance their class load with their work and personal
schedules.
To be admitted to the 5-week ABE Program, students are required to be at least
22 years of age, have a minimum of two years of post-high school, full-time
employment, and have a cumulative grade point average of a 2.00 from all
previous institutions attended. Any student who has earned an associate’s degree
from Heartland shall automatically be admitted into the ABE Program based in
Normal or into the traditional program at the Lincoln campus.
[Steve Fast
Director, Public Information
Heartland Community College]
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