Mars Hill University and Blue Ridge Community College Create Promise Program

October 8, 2019

MHU President Tony Floyd and BRCC President Laura Leatherwood signed a memorandum of understanding creating the Promise Program: A Direct-Entry Admission Program. The program will allow currently enrolled Blue Ridge students a direct-entry pathway to MHU, available upon their graduation from Blue Ridge Community College.

Blue Ridge Community College graduates who want to continue their education with a bachelor’s degree now have a direct pathway to do so at Mars Hill University. Mars Hill President Tony Floyd and Blue Ridge President Laura Leatherwood signed paperwork this morning creating the Promise Program: A Direct-Entry Admission Program.

The program will streamline the process of transferring to a four-year institution following completion of an associate’s degree. That process often causes headaches for students—navigating the intricacies of admissions criteria, determining which community college credits will transfer to the four-year institution, fulfilling general education requirements, and other issues which can arise when transferring.

Blue Ridge students who participate in the Promise Program will have access to information about academic programs, faculty, and staff at the Mars Hill campus who will facilitate their transition to MHU. They will be able to receive admission, financial aid, registration, and orientation communications early in the transition process, which will set them up for maximum success at both institutions. Participants will be required to maintain a 2.0 grade point average, earn an associate’s degree at Blue Ridge in a college transfer program or in an applied program for which there is an articulation agreement with Mars Hill, and enroll at Mars Hill within one academic year after receiving their associate’s degree.

Floyd says the Promise Program is part of Mars Hill’s renewed focus on serving the people of Western North Carolina. It provides a clear pathway for Henderson and Transylvania county students to earn their bachelor’s degrees. Leatherwood said Blue Ridge is “happy to be in partnership with MHU.”

MHU President Tony Floyd and BRCC President Laura Leatherwood signed a memorandum of understanding creating the Promise Program: A Direct-Entry Admission Program. The program will allow currently enrolled Blue Ridge students a direct-entry pathway to MHU, available upon their graduation from Blue Ridge Community College.

Students interested in the Promise Program may contact Kara Mugrage, transfer admissions counselor at Mars Hill University, at kmugrage@mhu.edu or (828) 689-1206; or Kirsten Hobbs, transfer coordinator at Blue Ridge Community College, at kd_hobbs@blueridge.edu or (828) 694-1801.