ALMA, Mich. — Alma College and Montcalm Community College (MCC) have expanded their existing transfer partnership with the addition of a new chemistry transfer pathway, building on an articulation agreement that has been in place since 2023.
The original agreement established transfer pathways for students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in accounting, business, communication and psychology. The newly added chemistry pathway expands those opportunities, giving students another clear route from an associate degree at MCC to a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Alma College.
Under the new agreement, students can complete an associate degree in arts or sciences at Montcalm Community College before transferring to Alma College, where they can finish a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in as little as two additional years. Developed through collaboration between faculty and administrators at both institutions, the pathway is designed to simplify the transfer process and help students move seamlessly from a two-year degree to a four-year program.
The agreement provides students with a clear academic plan by outlining how coursework completed at MCC transfers into Alma’s chemistry major. Rather than navigating course equivalencies independently, students who follow the pathway can transfer with confidence, knowing they are on track to complete their bachelor’s degree.
“The transfer agreement gives students a very clear direction of where they can continue their studies,” said Dr. James Mazzuca, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Alma College. “What it basically does is it just removes barriers and uncertainty. If one of these students wants to finish their degree, this is the place to do it.”
The expanded partnership reflects Alma College’s ongoing commitment to increasing access for transfer students through strong relationships with community colleges across Michigan. By continuing to build on the 2023 agreement with MCC, both institutions are creating additional opportunities for students to transition seamlessly from a two-year degree to a four-year program while achieving their academic and career goals.
Students who transfer to Alma will enter a chemistry program that emphasizes hands-on learning and undergraduate research. The program is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS), and students regularly conduct research alongside faculty members, present their findings at professional conferences and co-author scientific publications before graduating.
Because of Alma’s small class sizes, chemistry students work closely with faculty throughout their undergraduate experience, gaining access to advanced laboratory equipment and research opportunities.
“It’s a very immersive department,” said Dr. Jeffrey Turk, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Alma College. “A lot of students that have come and visited here, or even some faculty were impressed with the kinds of opportunities that we have for students.”
The new chemistry transfer pathway expands the existing transfer agreement between Alma College and Montcalm Community College and is now available.
