University of Dubuque's Community Reach 99 Paves the Way to Degree Completion for Students in Iowa's Community Colleges

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque recently launched a new pathway designed to help "transfer major" graduates from Iowa's community colleges complete their undergraduate degrees with direction, affordability, and efficiency.

Community Reach 99 (CR 99) is an academic roadway that is easy to navigate and built specifically for students who have earned an associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS) degree from an Iowa community college. UD has cleared away the logistical challenges for a smooth transfer process for an Iowa community college graduate. CR 99 makes the route to a bachelor's degree as direct and transparent as possible. And for those with sights set further down the road toward earning a bachelor's degree, this pathway can take students all the way to master's degree - or even to the John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine (proposed, applicant seeking accreditation) - without ever leaving the highway.

"Too many students are held back not by their potential, but by the price tag of education, the puzzle of transfer credits, and the foggy road to a degree. CR 99 is our commitment to clearing that path for Iowa community college graduates - making college more affordable, more navigable, and more purposeful for those who've already earned their AA or AS," said Debra Stork, PhD, special assistant to the president at UD. "CR 99 builds on past collaborations with Iowa's community colleges. This initiative is more than a program or agreement - it's a strategic pathway designed to benefit students, institutions, and the future of rural healthcare in Iowa. At its heart, CR 99 is about encouraging Iowa community college students to complete their AA or AS degree before pursuing a bachelor's degree. CR 99 is an academic roadway toward further education. For example, UD aims to address the critical shortage of rural health providers by creating a seamless transition from associate degrees to bachelor's programs at the University of Dubuque and onward to graduate studies, including medical school."

Through CR 99, academic credits from a student's "transfer major" at their Iowa community college will be accepted seamlessly at UD. This process allows students to complete their bachelor's degree in two years or less.

In addition to transfer-friendly credits, Iowa AA or AS graduates will pay less in tuition than they would at an Iowa public university with CR 99.

"CR 99 is unique because it is designed to simplify the transfer process," said Melissa Gunnelson, MAC, associate dean of graduate and transfer admission at UD. "The University of Dubuque realizes the cost of education can sometimes be challenging for families. Our goal is to help remove that barrier and make it extremely affordable to transfer and complete a bachelor's degree."

UD has partnered with Iowa's community colleges to create clear transfer agreements for the following majors: biology/biomedical sciences/medical sciences, business, chemistry, communication, criminal justice, mathematics, psychology, sociology, and theatre.

Those partnerships with community colleges are critical as they help build a smooth transition for students on their road towards degree completion.

"The CR 99 initiative offers a clear and affordable pathway for all graduating Iowa community college students to seamlessly transfer to the University of Dubuque's higher education network," said Kathleen Nacos-Burds, PhD, vice president of teaching and learning at Northeast Iowa Community College. "This unique opportunity allows graduates to progress toward a quality education with reduced cost and time to completion. Notably, the program also addresses the critical healthcare shortage across the state. While Northeast Iowa Community College students have benefited from seamless University of Dubuque transfer pathways for many years, CR 99 expands this unique opportunity to all Iowa community college students."

To learn more about CR 99, please visit www.dbq.edu/communityreach99.