View Larger Image Susan Long, right, signs the Memorandum of Understanding as Nathan Johnson, left, and officials of Western Piedmont Community College, onscreen, look on.
Susan Long, right, signs the Memorandum of Understanding as Nathan Johnson, left, and officials of Western Piedmont Community College, onscreen, look on. Image by Bryan Clifton

UAMS, Western Piedmont Community College Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Student Transfers

By Ben Boulden

| LITTLE ROCK – Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Health Professions signed an agreement to help qualified graduates of the community college transfer to the Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) program in the university’s Department of Laboratory Sciences.

Leaders of both colleges signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Jan. 9 in a virtual ceremony.

The agreement aims to provide a seamless transfer for students who enroll in the UAMS program following completion of their two-year degree at Western Piedmont to become medical laboratory technicians. The UAMS MLS program offers a 100% online Medical Laboratory Technician to Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLT-to-MLS) program for them to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

“Western Piedmont Community College is excited to partner with the UAMS College of Health Professions to provide opportunities for our graduates to transfer to UAMS and complete their bachelor’s degree,” said WPCC President Joel Welch, Ph.D. “Our partnership will make it easier for students to transfer, continue to further their professional education and take their success here on to UAMS.”

Under the terms of the agreement, any student transferring from Western Piedmont to UAMS who has completed courses in the MLT program there, gone through the required transfer procedures and gained admission to UAMS will receive full transfer credit for previously earned hours in their major field of study.

“Our ability to address health care workforce needs now and in the future is strengthened when UAMS can join with great partners like Western Piedmont Community College,” said College of Health Professions Dean Susan Long, Ed.D. “This collaboration benefits those students we hope will become much-needed medical laboratory scientists going to work in community hospitals and clinics.”

Nathan Johnson, left, and Susan Long, right, meet online with Western Piedmont leadership and faculty prior to the signing of the agreement between the two colleges.

Nathan Johnson, left, and Susan Long, right, meet online with Western Piedmont leadership and faculty prior to the signing of the agreement between the two colleges.Image by Bryan Clifton