Beginning next fall, full-time students at seven area colleges will be able to take fall, winter or spring courses at each of the other colleges under a new Cross Registration Program. The Program is part of a new Mohawk Valley College Consortium announced today by Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace, Jr.

The seven institutions include Hamilton College, Herkimer County Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College, SUNY Empire State College at Utica, SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome, SUNY Morrisville, and Utica College.

According to County Executive Ralph Eannace, "This Consortium agreement can provide a great new recruiting tool for our local colleges and wonderful new resources for our area students. It can also help the Mohawk Valley earn a new reputation, one it truly deserves, as a 'Hub of Higher Education'. I have been pushing for this for years, and I am thrilled and grateful that it is now a reality. I sincerely thank all of the colleges for their leadership in this achievement. I would also like to thank SUNY Chancellor Robert King, who worked on a similar project when he was the County Executive of Monroe County, for his inspiration and support."

Leaders of each of the institutions signed the agreement forming the Consortium and outlining its procedures as part of a news conference today at the offices of the County Executive. College representatives taking part in today's signing ceremony and news conference were Dr. Michael Schafer, President of Mohawk Valley Community College, Dr. Mason Somerville, President of the SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome, Dr. MaryLee Seibert, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Utica College, Dr. Charles Blaas, Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Morrisville, Peter Perkins, Interim Dean of the Central New York Center of Empire State College, Dr. David Paris, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Hamilton College, and Dr. John Ganio, Dean of Academic Affairs at Herkimer County Community College.

County and college officials believe that students will not only benefit from enriched educational opportunities under the agreement, but may discover college transfer opportunities locally, and may decide to settle in the Mohawk Valley area after graduation as a result. They also anticipate that other forms of cooperation will develop among the participating institutions, including resource-sharing and joint ventures.

Participating students must be enrolled full-time at one of the Consortium member institutions, known as their "home" institution, and must be matriculated in a degree or certificate program. Eligible students may cross-register for a maximum of one course of up to four credit hours per term. Courses taken through cross registration must not offered during that term on the student's "home" campus, and must be applicable to the student's degree or certificate program at their "home" campus.

Similar cross-registration privileges will also be available to full-time faculty and staff members at the seven institutions when desired courses are not available at the "home" campus.

Students will pay tuition and fees for courses at their "home" institution, as well as a modest cross-registration fee to be determined by each institution. They may also be responsible for other routine fees charged by the "host" institution.

Participating students will begin the cross-registration process at their "home" institution in consultation with their academic advisor and receive the approval of their "home" institution academic department head, chair or division dean. They then take a special cross-registration form to the Registrar of the "host" institution, who will register the student if space is available in the selected course. Cross-registration will take place after all "home" institution students have had appropriate opportunities to register for the selected courses. Students must satisfy any course pre-requisites established by the "host" institution.

Cross-registration does not include non-credit courses offered by any of the participating colleges.