Academic Course Exchange Program

For more information, contact:
Mary Van Buren
Phone: (386) 226-6525

Volusia Higher Education Consortium Launches Course-Exchange Program

Daytona Beach, Fla., Dec. 6, 2004 -- Dr. H. Douglas Lee, president of Stetson University and chair of the Volusia/Flagler Consortium of Higher Education, has announced that the organization, made up of five local colleges and universities, has developed an Academic Course Exchange (ACE) program that will allow students at the five schools to enroll in, and transfer credit from, courses offered at other Consortium schools.

The member schools in the Consortium are Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach Community College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Stetson University, and the University of Central Florida at Daytona Beach, all located in Volusia County.

The ACE program, according to Lee, is scheduled to take effect in Spring 2005, with student registration beginning Dec. 1, 2004. Students may take courses at the Consortium schools that are not offered by their home institution, applying the credit for those courses as open-elective credit to their degree program.

“This new plan provides a number of benefits to the member schools and our students,” said Dr. John Watret, associate chancellor for Academic Affairs at Embry-Riddle, who will spearhead the program. “Primarily, the program expands the range of courses available to our students since each of the five Consortium schools presents distinctive program offerings. The student gets a broader college experience that includes contact with a greater variety of fellow students.”

Collectively, the five Consortium schools offer Associate, Bachelor, and Master degrees in Arts and Sciences in Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, and Technical and Engineering programs, and Doctoral degrees in Education.

Enrolling in ACE courses takes place at the home institution, where the student must be in good academic standing and registered for a full load of 12 credits. Courses taken at other Consortium schools are considered part of the student’s semester load and typically will not require additional fees.

For more information, contact Dr. John Watret at (386) 226-4943 or john.watret@erau.edu.

The Higher Education Consortium was formed to promote cooperation among area colleges and universities on academic and operational issues. From the beginning it has been dedicated to enhancing Volusia County’s business and industrial activity. The consortium is closely tied to economic development efforts and serves the needs of local companies that are expanding or companies that are new to the area. It champions research and technology. The Higher Education Consortium is committed to building a future that underscores Volusia County’s leadership position as a center of technology with an enviable quality of life.