Students at Sandhills Community College will have the ability to transfer seamlessly to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte through the 49erNext Co-Admissions program. The three-year agreement was signed recently by leaders from both organizations and is effective immediately.  

“We are excited to be a part of the 49erNext Program at UNC Charlotte,” said Rebecca Roush, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Sandhills Community College, in a press release. “We have many deserving students in our population who will be eligible for this exciting program

as they meet their associate degree requirements at Sandhills.”  

The 49erNext Program is a co-admissions program designed to ensure seamless transfer leading to a bachelor’s degree for students beginning academic studies at Sandhills Community College and transferring to UNC Charlotte. By signing this 49erNext Co-Admissions Program Agreement the partner institutions commit themselves to implementing an integrated set of strategies across both institutions with the goal of achieving significant improvements in college completion rates and substantial narrowing of degree attainment gaps for low-income, underrepresented and first-generation students.  

“Both of our organizations are committed to put students first, foster success and to heighten opportunity -- making collective and institutional decisions to implement policies and processes that ensure that students of all backgrounds are welcomed, included, and supported in their pursuit of higher education,” said Catherine Skura, University Studies Coordinator and Economics Professor at Sandhills Community College, in a press release.  

To be eligible for participation in the 49erNext Program, interested students must: 

• Attend a community college that participates in the 49erNext program, like Sandhills Community College 
• Have earned a high school diploma, or equivalent 
• Be pursuing an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Engineering, Associate in Fine Arts*, Associate in Arts - Teacher Prep*, or Associate in Science - Teacher Prep* 
• Have earned 15 or fewer transferable credit hours at the community college where they intend to enroll in the program, with no prior transfer credits 
• Intend to pursue a major offered at UNC Charlotte, with the exception of architecture, fine or performing arts, graphic design and nursing 

UNC Charlotte recognizes these degrees as transferable associate degrees and will award a general education waiver. Students should consult with their community college academic advisor to determine the best associate degree fit for the most streamlined path to UNC Charlotte.  

“Sandhills is responsible for reviewing student eligibility each semester and UNC Charlotte will commit to an annual review and dissemination of Transfer Guides published on its website,” added Roush in a press release. “Transfer Guides associated with each major will provide a structure of sequenced courses that will enable students to plan for on-time completion and transfer to Charlotte as a true junior within the major.” 

Transfer Guides are published for each major as per the requirements of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) between the University of North Carolina System and the North Carolina Community College System. Transfer Guides will be the primary recommended method of reference for student academic advising.  

Upon completion of the Transfer Guide for their intended major, community college students with the associate degree, with a C or higher in all courses, will be able to transfer to UNC Charlotte in a position to complete a bachelor’s degree with 60 additional credit hours (i.e. four more semesters of full-time enrollment). Transfer Guides will be designed to enable and promote associate degree completion prior to transfer to UNC Charlotte. 

There are currently majors at UNC Charlotte in which a student transferring with the associate degree cannot complete the bachelor’s degree in 60 additional hours, typically because of sophomore-level prerequisite courses. In such cases, the partner institutions shall make every effort to better align the curriculum at their respective institutions by adding offerings or changing requirements.  

“All Sandhills 49erNext students will have a designated academic advisor at Sandhills,” added Skura in a press release. “Sandhills will be the 49erNext student's point of contact for advising questions and Sandhills program completion and are strongly encouraged to receive advising from Sandhills every semester.” 

Partner institutions will review success outcomes on an annual basis and seek regular feedback from students in the 49erNext Program to identify areas needing improvement.