A new collaboration between Stark State College and Ohio State University promises to save transfer students money.

Stark State officials say students who earn an associate of arts or science degree and has maintained a grade point average at least a 2.0 will be able to transfer to OSU with a junior standing.

The average yearly tuition for Stark State students is $4,400 and tuition at OSU is more than double that amount at around $10,000, according to Stark State.

Stark State currently has transfer agreements in place with more than 30 colleges and universities in Ohio and seven other states.

Stark State Press Release:

Stark State students who earn an associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS) degree and have maintained a grade point average of at least 2.0 will be guaranteed admission to OSU with junior standing.

Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee will join Stark State College President Para M. Jones at an official signing of the articulation agreement Aug. 14 at 5:30 p.m. in Stark State’s Business and Entrepreneurial Center. Members of the community; elected officials; and Stark State trustees, students, faculty and staff will attend the signing.

“We’re committed to providing seamless, cost-effective educational pathways for our students,” Jones said. “This agreement gives students in our region who plan to attend Ohio State the opportunity to earn an associate degree at Stark State at a lower tuition rate and then transfer to OSU to pursue a bachelor’s degree.”

Undergraduate tuition for 30 credit hours (one year) at OSU averages $10,000 per year; one year at Stark State averages $4,400. Tuition savings for the first two years could be as much as $10,000 to $12,000.

University transfer agreements provide seamless transfer of coursework between educational institutions and are designed to simplify the process of students who move from community colleges to four-year universities. Stark State has transfer agreements in place with more than 30 colleges and universities in Ohio and seven other states.

Jim Tressel  has a new job, but his lifetime goal remains the same as he will continue to work with students.

"I always wanted to be a teacher and coach and for many years I had 150 students, but now I have about 35,000 and that is great," Tressel said.

Monday night, Jim Tressel was the featured speaker for the 10th Annual Shaw Jewish Community Center Sports Dinner in Akron. The former Ohio State University Football Coach is now the vice president for strategic engagement at the University of Akron.

"This is something I have always wanted to do, but I will say that I did not have it planned this early," Tressel said.

Tressel described the past year and a half as stressful for him and his family, but he considers himself lucky to have coached the Buckeyes for 10 years.

"When I was hired, I told my family that I would be lucky to last five years at that level and it would be a dream to last 10 years," Tressel said.

Tressel had a great 15-year run as the head football coach at Youngstown State University before he moved to Columbus to guide the Buckeyes.

In 2002, Ohio State finished 14-0 and won a National Football Championship under his direction.

He says that was a special and memorable moment, but all the teams and big games are different and important to him.

Will he ever coach again?

"Ever is a long time," Tressel said.