IVC and University of Arizona Yuma announce new partnership

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA) - Imperial Valley College (IVC) and the University of Arizona Yuma are teaming up to give local students more ways to earn a four-year degree without leaving the Valley.

The two schools signed a new partnership Thursday focused on agriculture and STEM programs.

The partnership will help build the "ValleyCats Initiative," creating transfer pathways from IVC into four-year programs.

College leaders say the goal is to remove some of the barriers that can come with leaving home for college.

IVC says the partnership also fills a gap in the Valley, where students previously did not have local STEM bachelor's degree options.

The schools say the program will continue to grow as they work to create more opportunities for students locally.