Signing the articulation agreement are President Dr. Robert Vartabedian for Missouri Western and Dr. Jaime Dial, Assistant Director of Secondary Education for the St. Joseph School District and a 2000 graduate of Missouri Western.

High school business students in the St. Joseph School District will be able to earn college credit at Missouri Western State University through an articulation agreement signed today.

Students who complete the six semester-long courses in the St. Joseph School District’s High School of Business program with at least a B average and then successfully complete a semester at Missouri Western State University will receive three hours of credit for completing an introductory business course.

“We’re pleased to reward high school students who successfully take on a very challenging curriculum,” said Carol Roever, interim dean of the Craig School of Business at Missouri Western. “We have every reason to believe that the students who succeed in the High School of Business program will be well-prepared for further success in the Craig School of Business.”

“The High School of Business program is a rigorous, project-oriented offering designed for future college business majors,” said David Jordan, St. Joseph School District business and marketing coordinator. “Students take six courses similar to the basic courses required for a business degree. The sixth semester course, Business Strategies, involves a long-term planned community service activity. Another unique feature of the program is the commitment from the business community to provide speakers and onsite visits to provide real-world experience for the students.”

After the signing, students, teachers and administrators from the St. Joseph School District got a tour of the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.

The agreement with Missouri Western is the first articulation agreement for college credit for students in the school district’s business and marketing department, Jordan said.

This is the second year of operation for the High School of Business program in the St. Joseph School District, following two years of planning and organizing with an advisory board and national program officials. The program is offered at all three district high schools. Currently about 90 students are enrolled.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.