College-university partnerships gaining momentum.

If all goes according to plan, the new university center on the main campus of Bellevue Community College in Bellevue, Wash., may become the most visible symbol yet of the increasing cooperation between the nation's two- and four-year schools.

In a deal officially announced last month, BCC will create a university center that will allow students at the two-year school to earn a four-year degree from Eastern Washington University. BCC officials said they wanted to provide the option for students to go to a four-year college without having to leave the Puget Sound area.

"As far as the program itself goes, we call it a university center already," said Bob Adams, public information director with BCC, located just outside Seattle. "But, …