�ճ�������ϲ����������Ի��� today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the Bulldog Promise Program, a pioneering direct-entry admissions partnership designed to make a bachelor’s degree more accessible, more affordable, and more achievable for students across Jackson, Swain, and Macon Counties and the Qualla Boundary.

Effective fall 2026, the program creates a clear, supported pathway from SCC directly to UNC Asheville — giving students from western NC a guaranteed route to a four-year degree while dramatically reducing the cost of their education.

Students who follow the Bulldog Promise pathway can graduate from a prestigious public liberal arts university with significantly less debt than those who enroll at a four-year institution from the start. The program has no participation fee, and students can even apply for a waiver of the UNC Asheville application fee.

Students who meet the straightforward eligibility requirements — including earning a minimum 2.0 GPA, maintaining good standing, and completing an associate degree in a college transfer program — are guaranteed admission to UNC Asheville. There are no surprises, no uncertainty about whether credits will count and no need to start the college search process from scratch.

Every credit earned at Southwestern in a qualifying program transfers to UNC Asheville — so students aren’t forced to repeat coursework or lose time. From the moment students sign up for the program at Southwestern, they gain early access to financial aid communications, orientation and registration resources at ���ϲ����� Asheville — setting them up for success before they ever set foot on the Asheville campus.

“Southwestern Community College graduates looking to advance their education will find a welcoming home at ���ϲ����� Asheville, and we’ve made it our mission to make that transition as smooth as possible,” said UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort. “Our dedication to accessible, affordable, career-focused education means that students who transfer here can expect real, tangible returns on their investment — an edge that will equip them to tackle the complex challenges facing our region and the state as a whole.”

Currently enrolled SCC students interested in the Bulldog Promise Program can sign up by completing a brief online form available through the UNC Asheville Transfer Counselor.

“We are always eager to find new opportunities to help our students succeed, and our new partnership with UNC Asheville is a perfect example,” said Dr. Don Tomas, SCC’s President. “I’m thankful to all our administrators at Southwestern, and also to our friends in Asheville, for putting this MOU together. Ultimately, our students will benefit – and that’s good for all of us as well as for the communities we serve.”

About UNC Asheville

Founded in 1927, UNC Asheville is a proud member of the University of North Carolina System. With award-winning faculty, small class sizes, and 60+ academic programs in the natural sciences, human sciences, humanities, arts, and social sciences, the University is recognized for its robust paid internship programs to prepare students to immediately enter the workforce. In the US News & World Report 2025 edition of Best Colleges, UNC Asheville is ranked No. #9 in Top Public Schools, and No. #7 in Princeton Review’s 2025 Top 50 Guide to Green Colleges. Known as the Bulldogs, UNC Asheville student-athletes compete in 16 NCAA Division I Teams in the Big South Conference. For more information, please visit: www.unca.edu.

About Southwestern Community College

For more than 60 years,  has served Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties, and the Qualla Boundary in Western North Carolina by providing a wide range of educational options for residents in all stages of life. SCC has been ranked among the nation’s Top 10 community colleges six times in the last 15 years – including a No. 1 ranking in ’s listing of the “Best Community Colleges & Trade Schools of 2020.” Through a supportive learning environment, Southwestern offers more than 40 degree programs (including more than 90 credentialing options, 28 of which are offered online) in Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences/College Transfer and Career Technologies. A variety of community resources – including the Small Business Center, Workforce Continuing Education and Career Services – are also available.