By Laurie Willis

Bennett College News Service

GREENSBORO – Bennett College has joined the Pfeiffer University Partnership Program, which provides a 20 percent tuition discount on undergraduate degree completion and graduate programs for Bennett alumnae, faculty and staff that attend Pfeiffer. In addition, the partnership includes a military discount of 40 percent for veterans and a $250 flat discount rate for Bennett’s students and employees in the active military.

“When this opportunity was brought forth to the leadership team it was a no-brainer,” said Bennett College President Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins. “We encourage our graduates to further their studies and are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Pfeiffer University. We don’t currently offer graduate programs for adults, so this is a great match for us.”

Pfeiffer University President, Dr. Colleen Perry Keith, said the institution has strong graduate programs that can be offered both online and on campus.

“We’re very excited to partner with our sister Methodist schools and Bennett College in particular,” Keith said. “We knew we had graduate programs Bennett students might be interested in and now, with our fully accredited programs more affordable for them, we look forward to seeing the Bennett community take advantage of this opportunity.”

Steve Willis, Bennett’s interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Gisele Abron, Bennett’s interim associate vice president for enrollment management, agree the partnership is beneficial for the two very similar institutions.

“What’s exciting is this partnership brings together two institutions with a unique history,” Willis said. “We have buildings on our campus named after the Pfeiffer family. Our histories are intertwined and so now our futures are intertwined, too. This partnership establishes a new pipeline for our students who plan to pursue graduate studies and also presents a great opportunity for our alums.”

Pfeiffer University’s graduate programs have received numerous recognitions including their master of marriage and family therapy being ranked eighth in the country for affordability and the master in healthcare administration program being named the top online program in the country. Pfeiffer’s master of business administration program has consistently been named as one of the to programs in North Carolina, along with all of the online graduate programs.

Dawkins said she hopes many Bennett alumnae who are contemplating graduate school but haven’t yet enrolled in a program will strongly consider Pfeiffer.

“The institution has a lot to offer, and I am sure our graduates would do well there,” Dawkins said. “I’m grateful we can offer them this partnership to attend Pfeiffer.”