August 22, 2025
Over the past year, Oakland University has signed a series of articulation agreements that will make it easier for qualified students from Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College, and Schoolcraft College to transfer to OU to complete their degrees.
“Oakland was founded on the premise that everyone deserves access to an exceptional education — and all of the valuable opportunities that come with it,” said Dawn M. Aubry, vice president for enrollment management at OU. “That’s why we’re doing all we can to help make an exceptional education affordable.”
The articulation agreement between OU and Macomb Community College creates a clear and efficient transfer path for students completing their Associate of Applied Science in Speech Communication Arts at Macomb and pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication at OU. By outlining specific course equivalencies, the agreement helps students carry more credits into their major and avoid the frustration of taking unnecessary or duplicate courses.
“One of the biggest advantages of this agreement is that it saves students time and money,” said Dr. Robert Sidelinger, professor and communications program director at OU. “With a well-mapped curriculum in place, students can plan their academic journey from the start, taking only the courses they need to complete their degree. This reduces both tuition costs and the overall time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree — an important consideration, especially for working adults or those returning to school.”
In addition, Sidelinger said the partnership between OU and Macomb Community College also reflects a shared commitment to student success and access.
“By reducing uncertainty, increasing affordability, and ensuring alignment across programs, this articulation agreement creates a more inclusive and supportive environment for students pursuing their educational goals,” he said.
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| Articulation agreements make it easier for transfer students to complete their degrees at OU. |
Likewise, articulation agreements between OU and Oakland Community College are also intended to ensure the efficient and seamless movement of students from Oakland Community College to Oakland University, while promoting continuous advancement in learning.
For example, one agreement makes it so that after completing the Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Studies and the Michigan Transfer Agreement at Oakland Community College, students will only have 57 credits to complete at Oakland University to earn their Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education.
“This agreement will help address the local and state teacher shortages in early childhood, early intervention and early childhood special education needs,” said Roberta Rea, director of advising in the School of Education and Human Services at OU. “Both academic institutions will offer significant classroom and experiential learning and provide students with the opportunity to learn and apply the state-required Core Teaching Practices.”
Another articulation agreement between the two institutions will help qualified students from Oakland Community College who earn an Associate in Science degree to transfer to OU and earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in as little as four semesters.
The agreement also provides students with a defined list of equivalent courses, which will help them avoid taking unnecessary or duplicative courses, and help them graduate faster and spend less money, as the agreement ensures that they’re only paying for courses that contribute directly to their degree.
“As part of my National Science Foundation grant, I have worked to recruit Oakland Community College students during the summer months to participate in an authentic research experience at OU prior to fully enrolling,” said Dr. Zacharias Kinney, assistant professor of organic chemistry at OU. “During the articulation process, I worked with these students to ensure their transfer to OU would be smooth, specifically in terms of their chemistry course sequence.
“By working with these students on their academic and research positioning, they are now primed to be contributors to the research team for about three full years, while under the previous path they would have had about one-and-a-half years at maximum,” Kinney added. “Thus far, I have taken four students from the Oakland Community College population, with two of them committing to OU for degrees in chemistry and biochemistry.”
Oakland University also recently signed an articulation agreement with Schoolcraft College that will provide students in the Schoolcraft College Honors Program with a seamless transfer pathway to the Honors College at OU.
As outlined in the agreement, Schoolcraft College students will have access to OU Honors College Counselors while still enrolled at Schoolcraft to help guide them along their educational journey and help them select the appropriate courses to make sure they are accepted into their degree program at OU.
“For the adult students we work with, time-to-degree is essential,” Aubry said. “Strong articulation agreements create the most direct path to completion. They save students time, reduce costs, and ensure that every credit earned moves them closer to their goal.”
In addition to articulation agreements that benefit students at each of Michigan’s 28 community colleges, Oakland University also offers a number of scholarships for transfer students. For more information, visit www.oakland.edu/futurestudents/scholarships-cost-aid.
To learn more about articulation agreements at Oakland University, visit www.oakland.edu/registrar/transfers/articulation-agreements.