New agreement between VCU and Reynolds Community College to make social work degrees more accessible, affordable

November 16, 2015 by Geoff LoCicero

Virginia Commonwealth University has signed a deal with Reynolds Community College to allow eligible Reynolds students who earn an associate’s degree in pre-social work to transfer to VCU and complete their bachelor’s degree at the School of Social Work in as little as four semesters.

The School of Social Work’s new articulation agreement with Reynolds Community College is the second such agreement with a Richmond-area community college. The School of Social Work entered into a similar agreement with John Tyler Community College in 2012, and the first cohort of transfer students from JTCC is currently studying at VCU.

“Our articulation agreements with both JTCC and Reynolds provide a direct pathway or bridge for students to begin their social work degree at the community college level and then transfer to VCU School of Social Work in the B.S.W. program,” said Ananda Newmark (M.S.W.’02/SW), B.S.W. program director for VCU’s School of Social Work.

So far, 12 graduates of JTCC’s Human Services, Pre-Social Work Specialization Program, have transferred to VCU and are pursuing a B.S.W. degree.

“Many students who begin their college coursework at various community colleges do so for a variety of reasons: convenient geographical locations, flexible schedule of classes to accommodate life, online courses and cheaper tuition,” Newmark said. “These agreements decrease the amount of time and money needed to earn their B.S.W. degree, ultimately contributing to increasing retention and graduation rates.”