College, Tennessee Wesleyan partnership bridges transfer from two- to four-year programs

Pellissippi State Technical Community College and Tennessee Wesleyan College have signed an agreement that will allow graduates in two of Pellissippi State’s “career/technical” programs to transfer into TWC without losing any courses.

Career/technical programs traditionally prepare graduates to enter the workforce directly.

Students in Office Systems Technology and Computer Accounting can now earn a two-year associate’s degree at Pellissippi State, then transfer to TWC’s Knoxville branch for a four-year bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. OST graduates will pursue the Healthcare Management emphasis, and Computer Accounting students will follow the Accounting emphasis.

The main benefit in this agreement,” said Cheryl Leach, curriculum coordinator at Pellissippi State, “is that all of the courses from OST and Computer Accounting will transfer. Historically, our graduates in these programs had only one road they could travel once they graduated—into the workplace.

“Thanks to this partnership, they no longer have to start at square one if they decide to continue straight through or return later for a four-year degree. Everything in the two programs will transfer.”

Jim Bruns, Pellissippi State’s vice president of Academic and Student Affairs, says there’s no question that the partnership increases the opportunities available to Pellissippi State graduates.

“This agreement is very positive for our career/technical students, since it provides a seamless four-year degree option. It saves them valuable time, and it gives them much more flexibility once they graduate.”

Tennessee Wesleyan is one of six institutions in the state to establish a career/technical articulation agreement with Pellissippi State. The other agreements are with Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tusculum College’s Knoxville branch, and Nossi College of Art and Watkins College of Art and Design, both in Nashville.

Articulation agreements for Pellissippi State’s traditional college transfer programs, those that were designed from the onset for students to pursue a four-year degree, are also in place with several colleges.

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Community Relations Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

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