Colleges work together

Higher education organizations often compete for students, but two colleges in Southwest Florida are teaming up for certain workforce programs.

Hodges University and Florida SouthWestern State College (formerly Edison State College) recently agreed to create programs that would help students move between the two institutions in areas such as software development, computer networking, digital design and applied psychology.

The two institutions recently agreed to allow students who earn an associate's degree at Florida SouthWestern in those subjects to seamlessly transfer to Hodges' bachelor program. What's more, Hodges has agreed to provide a tuition scholarship to those transferring students of $100 per credit hour.

This should come as good news for technology employers because students with associate's degrees from Florida SouthWestern may be more likely to continue to earn a bachelor's degree now that it's easier for them to do so.