Capital Community College (CCC) graduates have a new option for transfer to the baccalaureate as the result of a cross-institutional articulation agreement with American International College (AIC) in Springfield.

AIC has signed articulation agreements with Holyoke Community College (HCC), Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), and Capital.

The agreement  with area community colleges, announced as the fall 2016 semester comes to a close, will align courses and programs for qualified candidates “to make a smooth, successful transfer to AIC,” according AIC, a private, co-educational institution founded in 1885. American International includes schools of Business, Arts & Sciences, Health Sciences and Education.

An articulation agreement can mean time and cost savings for students by not having to take duplicate courses. In addition, articulation agreements help both the sending and receiving institutions boost enrollment and retention rates.

Transferring to AIC may also  have financial aid benefits for community college students. AIC’s program is referred to as Direct Connect. Direct Connect transfer students automatically receive a $4,000 scholarship in addition to their earned merit scholarship, before any need-based aid is awarded. This means Direct Connect students can earn up to $17,000 per year in financial gift aid, not loans, before being evaluated for additional need-based aid. And, unlike some other transfer articulation agreements, the Direct Connect program at AIC allows students to study and major in their area of interest while attending their community college.

“I am pleased to see this expansion of  transfer opportunities to American International,” said CCC President Wilfredo Nieves.  “Capital benefits from articulations with Trinity College, the University of Saint Joseph and University of Hartford as well as Connecticut’s public colleges and universities.  The agreement will benefit enrollment and retention at both Capital and AIC and adds to the outstanding institutions  transferring Capital students may choose to earn bachelor’s degrees.”