Greenville College and SWIC Team Up for Degree Program
Published: April 13, 2021
Southwestern Illinois College and Greenville College have joined forces to offer a bachelor's degree in elementary education taught entirely at the SWIC Belleville Campus.
The Undergraduate Teacher Education Partnership program permits students to transfer seamlessly with junior status from the SWIC Associate in Arts education pre-major programs to Greenville College's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree.
"Every agreement we forge with other quality institutions furthers the education and career opportunities for our students and serves to underscore our commitment to student success," said SWIC President Georgia Costello, Ph.D.
Through the UTEP, all classes for both the SWIC associate degree and Greenville bachelor's degree will be offered at the SWIC Belleville Campus, 2500 Carlyle Ave.
"One of Greenville's distinctive benefits is its tradition in teacher education. I am excited about the opportunity to share our experience with the students at SWIC," said Larry Linamen, Ed.D., Greenville College president. "Our partnership will complement the good work that SWIC is already doing to enhance the value of education throughout the community."
The two institutions ratified the agreements in March and officially signed the pact May 10 at a meeting in the SWIC Schmidt Art Center.
 | PARTNERS IN EDUCATION - The presidents of Southwestern Illinois College and Greenville College recently signed a formal agreement to offer a bachelor's degree in elementary education taught entirely at the SWIC Belleville Campus. Pictured signing the agreement are Greenville College President Larry Linamen, Ed.D., left, and SWIC President Georgia Costello, Ph.D., right. SWIC Photo by Linda Gass-Burgess 5-10-11 |
To enter the transfer program, SWIC students must maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA; complete a minimum of 64 credit hours, with a grade of C or better in English 101, English 102, and all education classes; complete a Greenville College application; pass the Illinois Certification Testing System Basic Skills Test; and supply official SWIC transcripts to Greenville College.
SWIC will offer ED 257 Illinois Basic Skills Test Prep in the summer and fall to help students prepare for the IBST. This new one-hour course, designed by SWIC Education Coordinator Caroline Adams, Ed.D., will help students prepare to pass the new rigorous state requirements of higher test scores to produce highly qualified teachers.
Students entering the program can take advantage of advising from both institutions to assist them in completing the degree in a timely manner. This will help prevent students from taking unnecessary classes, and therefore save the students money in the long run.
The Greenville College portion of the program takes a minimum of three semesters including a student teaching internship, 52 credit hours of prescribed Greenville courses and six credit hours in transferable electives from either institution.
The program leads to an Illinois elementary teaching certificate, which allows a teacher to work in kindergarten through ninth grade.
The two institutions will hold a UTEP information session at SWIC each fall and spring semester to inform prospective students about the benefits of the program. In addition, Greenville adviser Christine Shaw will be available to meet with prospective students on the SWIC campus.
SWIC and Greenville are both accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
SWIC offers Associate in Arts in Education pre-majors such as Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary and Special Education that prepare students to transfer into bachelor's degree programs.
Greenville has been educating teachers since 1929 and began forming UTEP agreements with other institutions in 2004. In 2010, the Illinois Council on Continuing Higher Education awarded Greenville College the Innovative Initiative Award for the college's UTEP agreements with Lewis and Clark Community College and Kaskaskia College.
For more information, contact Adams at 866-942-SWIC (7942), ext. 5279, or caroline.adams@swic.edu, or contact the Greenville College admissions coordinator for education programs, at 800-345-4440, ext. 6757.
