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HCC and Coppin State sign dance program agreement

Hagerstown Community College and Coppin State University (CSU) have signed a new agreement that will provide a seamless pathway for dance students from HCC to earn a bachelor’s degree at CSU.

Over the past year, HCC faculty and staff in the Division of English and Humanities have worked closely with a team in Academic Affairs and Student Services to make substantial curricular changes to the dance program. These updates allow for better course alignment with the common first and second-year requirements at four-year institutions. The substantial modifications were approved in June by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.

According to Laura Renninger, dean of instruction, “With any substantial modification to programs, MHEC now requires a 2 + 2 articulation agreement with a four-year institution if one does not already exist. We are excited that our first partnership is with Coppin State, where they have a fantastic dance program that aligns with HCC’s program in a holistic way and allows our dance students to easily transfer and complete their bachelor’s degree.”

“Our partnership with Hagerstown Community College is a significant milestone for our dance program,” added Vanessa Jackson, coordinator of the CSU dance program. “At CSU Dance, students are introduced to a wide range of movement and choreographic practices taught by highly recognized artists, and offered professional mentorships, community engagement internships and entrepreneurship opportunities. The CSU dance faculty is excited about preparing students for careers in dance through scholarly inquiry, performance opportunities, and engagement of their own choreographic projects.”

For more information about the dance programs at HCC and CSU, visit www.hagerstowncc.edu/english-and-humanities-division/dance and www.coppin.edu/academics/dance.

(October 10, 23)