Representatives from Western Michigan University and Kellogg Community College signed an agreement Wednesday, Oct. 1, that recognizes outstanding academic achievement by automatically inviting KCC students who meet certain criteria to be invited to join WMU’s Lee Honors College.
WMU President Russ Kavalhuna and KCC President Dr. Paul R. Watson signed the agreement during a brief ceremony on the WMU campus in Kalamazoo. Numerous administrators and faculty members from both institutions attended the celebratory event.
“WMU is honored to build on our established partnership with KCC by creating a clear path for Bruin honors students to complete their degrees at WMU’s Lee Honors College,” Kavalhuna said. “This agreement sets high standards for honors education and student success, while expanding pathways to Experience-Driven Learning — an education that equips them to lead meaningful careers and fulfilling lives.”
The agreement allows KCC students who have earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher and completed at least 26 college credits to be automatically invited, after being admitted to WMU, to join the Lee Honors College. The Lee Honors College is home to more than 2,000 high-achieving students who are completing programs of study in every one of WMU’s seven academic colleges. As members, students have access to early course enrollment, travel-based experiential learning courses, small class sizes, publication of their honors thesis, honors programming and scholarship opportunities.
“This new agreement between two longtime institutional partners will ensure students are successful and supported as they finish their honors program at KCC and transition to the honors program at WMU,” Watson said. “We are proud to work with WMU to uphold rigorous academic standards and highlight a pathway for sustained excellence.”
As part of the partnership between the two institutions, KCC will continue to offer academically challenging honors courses and encourage students planning to transfer to WMU to meet with Lee Honors College staff. Representatives from both institutions will meet at least once a year to review the arrangement and keep each other informed of any relevant curricular changes.
The honors agreement signed this week is the latest in a series of agreements that KCC and WMU have signed over the years. In 2023, the institutions renewed an institutional articulation agreement and series of program articulation agreements, all of which are aimed at creating a smoother process for KCC students who continue their education at WMU. The agreements, which remain in effect, facilitate the transfer of credits by minimizing the loss of earned credits and preventing the duplication of coursework.
Pictured above, from left to right, are Dr. Irma Lopez, dean of WMU’s Lee Honors College; Dr. Chris Cheatham, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at WMU; WMU President Russ Kavalhuna; KCC President Dr. Paul R. Watson; and Dr. Tonya Forbes, vice president for instruction at KCC. Photo courtesy of Western Michigan University.
For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online at https://daily.kellogg.edu/category/news-releases.
