ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — The Winthrop University Board of Trustees voted March 11 on the university becoming one of seven founding members of the Greater Charlotte Consortium so students can sign up for courses in a more timely manner.
In addition to Winthrop, the founding members are six institutions located in Charlotte,
North Carolina - University of North Carolina Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College, Queens
University, Johnson C. Smith University, and Johnson & Wales University — and Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina.
UNC Charlotte will be the lead institution and its representative will chair the group. Each participating institution will
provide one representative for the consortium's governance committee.
One reason for the consortium is to assist students who want to take military science classes. UNC Charlotte serves as the regional battalion for ROTC instruction. The UNC Charlotte "49er Battalion" is host to satellite programs in several colleges and universities in a more than
100-square-mile area of the Piedmont.
The consortium's establishment will facilitate a smoother registration for cadets
who wish to engage in cadet training in the region, through the consortium registration
program.
"Our students will have a broader selection of ROTC courses and will be able to graduate
without interruption," said Debra Boyd, Winthrop provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
Organizers said the proposed Greater Charlotte Consortium builds on an existing, informal
collaboration with participating institutions. Efforts are underway to have the consortium
approved by all parties by May 1 so students can begin taking courses later this year.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or longshawj@winthrop.edu.