North Central College engineering students have a direct path into the Illinois Institute of Technology’s graduate engineering programs through a new partnership between the two schools.
Under the agreement, North Central students who apply and are accepted into the engineering pathway earn their engineering degree at the Naperville school and a master’s degree from Illinois Tech.
Both programs can be completed as quickly as five years because of the streamlined process from one institution to the other.
“When you’re a student, it’s very difficult to figure out what to do next,” said Frank Harwath, professor and director of NCC’s engineering program.
“If they figure out, ‘OK, there’s a 1,000 colleges I can go to grad school to,’ they would have to figure (admissions and applications) out and do the research. … This is just an easier path for everyone. It makes it easier for the students.”
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The pathway approach also allow engineering students to work on their undergraduate degree while starting on their graduate degree at IIT.
Engineering students can take up to nine credit hours — three classes — that count as credit at both schools. IIT classes can be done at the school’s Chicago or Wheaton campuses or online, depending on the course selected.
“Master’s degrees, it has a cost. This reduces the cost by reducing the time,” said Natacha DePaola, professor and director of IIT’s Digital Medical Engineering & Technology Research and Education Center.
DePaola was among the group spearheading the engineering pathway during her previous role as engineering college dean at IIT.
She acknowledged the oddity of two private schools forming such a partnership. IIT isn’t poaching students from North Central, she said. Rather, it is providing an opportunity to North Central students who want to pursue a graduate degree in engineering, which North Central doesn’t offer.
“North Central is a great school, they have excellent students,” DePaola said. “Through these discussions and program we put together, we will have a pipeline that starts there and feeds into (IIT).”
“Since launching undergraduate engineering programs in 2018, North Central has been committed to broadening its program offerings and opportunities,” North Central President Troy Hammond said in a news release announcing the partnership. “This unique partnership does that by providing an accelerated path to an engineering graduate degree that saves our students time and money.”
Harwath said the pathway also gives NCC engineering students the chance to expand their engineering specializations. IIT programs include artificial intelligence, computer vision and control; architectural engineering; biomedical engineering; electrical and computer engineering; and mechanical and aerospace engineering.
Another benefit is students will have access to IIT’s graduate admissions advisors for consultation and guidance while enrolled at North Central.
Illinois Tech will waive the application fee for NCC students and provide a one-time scholarship to students admitted it IIT, Harwath said.
“Through partnerships like these, Illinois Tech is further committing itself to fueling the continued tech rise of the entire Chicago region,” Illinois Tech Provost Peter Kilpatrick said in a news release.
“We are thrilled to be able to welcome North Central College students to our graduate programs through a seamless transition that will help enable their future success, both in and out of the classroom.”