Hill College, SWAU team up for student success STORY BY Matt Smith
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recently announced partnership between Southwestern Adventist University and Hill College streamlines the process of transferring from Hill to SWAU and opens the door to additional opportunities for both schools and, more importantly, students.
The partnership, titled SWAU in Two, facilitates a“ seamless pathway from Hill College to a bachelor’ s degree.”
Designed to serve students across Johnson County and surrounding communities, the program allows eligible Hill College students who have completed an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Teaching degree to transfer seamlessly into Southwestern Adventist University and complete their bachelor’ s degree in as few as two additional years.
“ Our partnership with Hill College reflects Southwestern Adventist University’ s commitment to serving Johnson County through high-quality, affordable educational pathways that allow students to stay close to home,” said Dr. William Smith, Vice President for Academic Administration at Southwestern Adventist University.“ We are excited about what this means for students, for families, and for the future of our region. This collaboration expands access, simplifies the transfer process, and creates meaningful opportunities for student success and workforce development.”
The SWAU in Two program reflects both institutions’ shared commitment to increasing educational completion, supporting workforce readiness, and providing students with a faith-centered, career-ready academic
experience. More than a transfer agreement, the initiative creates new momentum for local students who are ready to take the next step toward a bachelor’ s degree.
“ Southwestern Adventist University is proud to partner with Hill College to expand access and create new opportunities for students in Johnson County,” said Ana Patterson, President of Southwestern Adventist University.“ We are grateful to Dr. Mills, President of Hill College, and his team for their collaboration in building a pathway that benefits students, strengthens our institutions, and serves our community.”
The partnership represents an important step forward for both institutions and for the students they serve. At a time when many students are looking for practical, affordable ways to continue their education, SWAU in Two offers a direct path to degree completion without the uncertainty that often comes with transferring colleges.
Built around student success, the agreement helps remove many of the common barriers associated with transfer. Students in the program will benefit from a streamlined credit transfer process, continued access to financial aid, and a supportive academic environment designed to help them transition smoothly into their next stage of study.
To make the pathway even more accessible, accepted SWAU in Two students will receive a 20 % tuition discount on Southwestern Adventist University’ s published undergraduate tuition rate. This discount can also be combined with the university’ s transfer student scholarship, for which all admitted SWAU in Two students are automatically eligible. Together, these opportunities make the program a strong financial option for students who want to stay local while pursuing a four-year degree.
Students with a 2.5 GPA or higher and in good academic standing will qualify for automatic admission to the program. That means students can move forward with confidence, knowing they have a clear next step toward completing their degree close to home.
“ I’ m very excited to see us come together and partner on this program to help students in Johnson County be able to complete their degrees and become professionals,” Patterson said.“ This program helps make that transition seamless so that we will have more graduates and professionals serving our communities.”
Patterson also spoke of the opportunity Hill College and SWAU offer to Johnson County students to remain local.
“ For many students, maybe a state or larger school isn’ t the right fit for them, or they want to stay close to home and family,” Patterson said.“ Here, those students can benefit from a lower student / teacher ratio in a Christian environment while attending a four-year institution where they’ re going to be more than just a number and where they can really thrive. We have a third of our students who are the first in their families to graduate from college.”
For information on the program, visit swau. edu / academics / special-programs / swau-two.
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