Madison College students who transfer to UW-Madison before earning enough credits for an associate degree now have a new avenue for completing it.

Thanks to a “reverse transfer” agreement between the two colleges, students who have earned at least 30 credits at Madison College can complete their associate degree using credits earned at UW-Madison.

Once the students meet the credit requirement, they will be awarded their associate degree from Madison College. The agreement takes effect this fall.

“I think it shows for both (institutions) that as partners we’re looking at how it is we can work together in order to really serve the needs of our students,” said Keith Cornille, Madison College Vice President of Student Development.

For students who are potentially eligible to receive an associate’s degree from Madison College, the college will notify them. Madison College will provide those students with information on the associate’s degree application process.

Students may not have the ultimate goal of completing an associate degree at Madison College, but Madison College provost Terry Webb said that actually completing a degree gives some students an added motivation to pursue their bachelor’s degree.

“Holding an associate degree is even more significant if students don’t complete their bachelors degree. It’s an advantage in an ever-competitive job market,” Webb said.

All advising for reverse transfer students seeking the Madison College associate degree will be provided by Madison College.

All Madison College students who plan to transfer to UW-Madison will be asked to sign a Participation Agreement and Consent of Disclosure of Records release to allow information to be transferred between each school. Information will be shared between Madison College and UW-Madison including name, birth date, matriculation term, and course data.

This is the first such agreement for Madison College, and one of few in the nation, but college officials say more are on the way. Two similar reverse transfer agreements are in the works with state schools and will likely be formally announced in April.