Aileena Ferguson expects to complete her bachelor鈥檚 degree in half the time, thanks to the cross-registration program between 黑料网 at Stark and Stark State College.
A summer transfer applicant to 黑料网 at Stark, the 21-year-old will begin taking courses full-time in the fall. That鈥檚 after the completion of an associate鈥檚 degree at Stark State College and more than a semester鈥檚 worth of free 黑料网 courses.
By taking a free class each semester at 黑料网 Stark while attending community college, Ferguson has saved more than $2,800.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing opportunity,鈥 said Ferguson of the cross-registration program. 鈥淎nd, for me, it really made my commute from Akron worth the drive. I鈥檒l have my associate鈥檚 degree in May, and I鈥檝e been working toward my bachelor鈥檚 degree at the same time.鈥
Paul Wells, an advisor of enrollment management and student services at 黑料网 Stark, works to foster a strong relationship between the university and Stark State College. The cross-registration program creates a unique partnership connecting the two institutions.
鈥淔ull-time Stark State College students can enroll in a tuition-free course at 黑料网 Stark, and vice versa,鈥 Wells explained. 鈥淚 am particularly impressed by Aileena鈥檚 diligent planning of the pursuit of her bachelor鈥檚 degree, including taking the initiative to begin enrolling in 黑料网 courses prior to graduation from Stark State.
鈥淗er ability to successfully complete 15 credit hours of 黑料网 courses at no cost of tuition has not only accelerated her path to graduation, but enhanced the affordability of higher education.鈥
FINDING PURPOSE
Ferguson graduated from Akron City Schools鈥 Ellet High School in 2015. She began taking courses in 2016 at 黑料网 Stark, through the cross-registration program.
鈥淚t just makes sense. I don鈥檛 know why anyone wouldn鈥檛 take advantage of this great program,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t makes an affordable college education that much more affordable. I also like how personal the professors are at both schools. They take the time to answer my questions, and they realize we are also dealing with real-life issues outside of the classroom.鈥
Ferguson plans to major in studio ceramics and minor in psychology at 黑料网 Stark. Coupled with her associate鈥檚 degree from Stark State College in business management, she plans to establish her career in the field of art therapy. One day, Ferguson hopes to open her own studio.
鈥淚鈥檝e always enjoyed art,鈥 she said. 鈥淢y grandpa used to encourage me to draw, but it wasn鈥檛 until high school that I started working with clay. Then, I took a ceramics class at 黑料网 Stark, and I loved it. I knew immediately that this is what I wanted to do.鈥
Growing up, Ferguson learned firsthand that art could help people, especially when they are battling an illness.
鈥淲hen I was a teenager, I got really sick a few times. While at the children鈥檚 hospital, I kept thinking how it would be tough to be here all of time. I thought about art, and how much I love it, and how it can provide an outlet, an escape from pain or whatever it is that you are going through.鈥
For Ferguson, changing the perspective of a sick child is how she will make her mark on the world, one piece of artwork at a time. That journey from Ellet High School began with a first step. It continues this fall as a full-time student at 黑料网 Stark.