By Sarah Mahan

The Selma Times-Journal

Through a partnership with a sister college, Selma-based Concordia College Alabama hopes to be able to better prepare its students for the future.

Concordia Alabama — through a partnership with Concordia Wisconsin — will be providing students with the opportunity to receive bachelor’s degrees in several different fields of study, including healthcare management, criminal justice management, sports and entertainment management and nursing.

Dr. Cheryl Washington, vice president of academic affairs for Concordia Alabama, said the programs are an effort to fulfill part of the college’s mission.

“[The programs are] part of our mission to be able to prepare our students. Our mission is similar to Concordia Wisconsin’s, and we want to be able to prepare our students to serve their communities and the world,” Washington said. “We are better able to do that through collaborations such as this.”

The new courses will be offered either online or on-campus through Concordia Alabama, but upon completing the program, students will receive a degree from Concordia Wisconsin.

“Part of our strategic plan has been to partner with our sister institution, Concordia University Wisconsin. It’s been in the works for a while as part of what we do as a Concordia University system,” Washington said. “The programs are [Wisconsin’s], and we will be offering them on our campus as well.”

Washington said the bachelor’s degrees in criminal management and nursing will be available this fall, and the remaining courses — along with master’s degrees in education and business administration — will be available the following school year. She encouraged anyone interested in the programs to contact her at the college.

“If anyone is interested in the programs, they can get in contact with me at the college, and I will help direct them on the right paths to take,” Washington said.

Contact Concordia College Alabama’s main office, 334-874-5700.