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MSU’s Board of Regents approves the addition of 18 new interdisciplinary degree programs, a proactive effort to bridge graduation gap for nearly 37 million Americans with “some college” experience and “no degree”
Baltimore— By way of unanimous vote at the Morgan State University Board of Regents’ spring quarterly meeting, Board members approved a proposal for the establishment of a novel degree-completion program and academic initiative branded “Morgan Completes You” (MCY).
Focused exclusively on adult learners with previously earned college course credits, MCY seeks to bridge the graduation gap for some 37 million Americans who have “stopped out” of college before receiving their degrees. The MCY initiative will provide an obtainable pathway to degree attainment and potential career advancement for many of these individuals.
MCY is designed to offer greater flexibility, opportunity and accessibility for non-traditional undergraduate and graduate students with “some-college-no degree” (SCND), by coupling their accumulated course work and work experience with a customized academic regimen leading to an interdisciplinary degree in the area of their career aspiration.
As a part of this effort, pending approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), Morgan will be adding 18 new and unique interdisciplinary degrees to its current offering of academic programs forming the foundation of the MCY program. The academic programs will be available at the undergraduate and graduate level, including eight bachelors, five master’s, and five doctoral programs.
“Ensuring the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible is more than a commitment, it is the bedrock of who we are as an institution and Morgan Completes You presents a navigable path to degree completion for so many adult learners who are negotiating real life in the real world,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan.
“With these new interdisciplinary degree programs, specialized and adapted to meet the unique needs of today’s modern adult learner, Morgan reaffirms its commitment as a leader in developing unique and innovative programs that produce highly proficient graduates ready to contribute within the modern, global workforce.”
According to the Lumina Foundation, the growing population of “stop outs”— people with “some college, no degree”— has reached nearly 37 million people in the U.S., an increase of 22 percent over the past five years. Within this segment, 10 percent or approximately 3.5 million are considered “potential completers” as they carry the equivalent of at least two years’ worth of full-time college enrollment during the past decade and have a high potential to earn a credential if they re-enroll.
The overwhelming data supports that the number of potential degree earners who, if provided with an attainable path forward, would return to college and obtain a degree as a means to increase marketability, boost earning potential, improve standard-of-living and solidify job security.
Re-enrollment and reengagement of students with SCND and potential completers are vital to sustaining a 21st century talent pipeline for local, national and global workforce opportunities and competitiveness.
In today’s market, employers want graduates grounded in theory, experienced and equipped with problem-solving skills. The proposed academic degree programs that will be introduced under the MCY program are designed to produce graduates who are knowledgeable and committed to service and leadership.
The proposed program curriculum, is also developed to link students’ employment experiences with past academic preparation and create a customized course trajectory that marries with their professional aspirations to maximize post-degree career achievement for graduates.
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