The College of Our Lady of the Elms and Greenfield Community College (GCC) have signed an agreement to expand baccalaureate opportunities for GCC students with a new full-time business degree program with established moderate tuition rates  for each year of study.  The new degree offering expands the choice of bachelor's degrees available through Elms College on the Greenfield Community College campus.

Starting this fall, current and first-year GCC students can enroll in a fully accredited Elms College Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and Marketing, taught onsite at the community college campus. A key benefit of this new degree track is helping students avoid high post-graduation debt loads.

Expanding the partnership between Elms College and GCC directly benefits the citizens of our communities," said Elms College President, Sr. Mary Reap, IHM. "Over the last two years, we have enjoyed a strong and collaborative relationship with our GCC partners in developing and implementing degree-completion programs for working adults. We're delighted that this new degree program for day classes will provide an affordable, high-quality bachelor's degree in business on a traditional schedule."

Applauding the new program, GCC President Bob Pura said, "Access to the baccalaureate degree here on our campus is essential to many in our community. President Reap and all at Elms College are wonderful partners toward that end. This bachelor's degree in business is especially exciting given the commitment to both excellence and affordability. "

Students will first complete a GCC Business Administration Transfer-Elms Intent Associate's Degree before completing the final four semesters of the Elms bachelor's degree on the campus at GCC. Each semester in the four-year program is a traditional 15-week term taught weekdays by Elms and GCC faculty.

"The program, developed jointly by Elms and GCC, is a unique degree-completion model for students in Western Massachusetts," said Elizabeth Hukowicz, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Elms. "Students are closely advised by GCC advisors as they enter and complete their associate's degrees at GCCand then advised by Elms advisors as they transition into the bachelor's degree program. We have developed programs that will advance the professional and personal lives of our students and our students' families, and impact their communities."

"GCC students will now be able to complete a choice of bachelor's degrees on the Greenfield Community College campus. The location is close to home, and the price is right, especially for the reduced cost of the day-time business degree," said Kathy Vranos, GCC Dean of Business & Information Technology, Professional Studies, and Social Sciences. "It's incredibly gratifying to work with our partners at Elms College and the GCC faculty and administration to expand the selection of GCC/Elms Bachelor's Degree Completion Programs offered on the GCC Main Campus. Our students are abuzz with excitement over the long-range impact of a cost-effective, high-quality Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and Marketing coming to Franklin County for the first time. That's what it's all about!"

Greenfield Community College will hold a Business, Information & Technology (BIT) Program Information Session Wednesday, April 29 at 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., on the Main Campus, East Building Room E114 A & B.  Prospective students will receive an overview of all business degree and certificate programs, including the new full-time day Bachelor's Completion Program in Business Management and Marketing.

For information about GCC/Elms business degrees, contact Thom Simmons, Co-Chair, Business and Information Technology, at or 413-775-1482; or Kristine Gomes, Elms College Coordinator, at (413) 835-1772 or .

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