Columbia State Community College and the University of Tennessee Southern recently signed co-admission and transfer agreements that will help to strengthen the pathway for Columbia State students who are looking to pursue their bachelor’s degree at UT Southern.

The agreement, while still maintaining the entrance qualifications for UT Southern and the graduation requirements for Columbia State, will offer expanded opportunities to students who complete their two-year associate degree programs with intentions to seek baccalaureate programs.

“Today is an exciting day, not just for our institutions, but for communities and workforce in southern Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama, but most importantly, it's an amazing day for our students,” said Cissy Holt, Columbia State vice president for Student Affairs. “Today, we formalize a long-standing relationship of respect and student support that began with Martin Methodist College and will now provide even more opportunities to strengthen our region. Yes, it's an exciting day for higher education in our region as we formally affirm the already strong collaboration and conversations that we've been having.”

Students who participate in the co-admission program are guaranteed admission to UT Southern after completing their degree from Columbia State.

“Co-admission sends a clear message to students; you are not starting over when you transfer,” said Dr. Prentice Chandler, UT Southern provost. “You are continuing forward on a pathway designed for your success. As I often say, anybody can say things and talk about things, but it's the doing of the things that matters. A clearer pathway for our students. And it's about saying to students at Columbia State, your degree is not the end of the road. It can be the beginning of the next step. And of course, we want that next step to be at UT Southern.”

As part of the transfer agreement, students will benefit from coordinated advising from both institutions and priority registration at UT Southern during the semester they graduate from Columbia State.

In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to host professional development opportunities for employees of both institutions. The MOU also provides two scholarship opportunities for Columbia State employees to earn a degree from UT Southern. The First Flight Scholarship offers any full-time employee at Columbia State three free credit hours for their first semester at UT Southern while pursuing any undergraduate or graduate degree program. The University Partnership Scholarship offers 25% off tuition for Columbia State employees.

“Through this partnership, our faculty and staff are gaining real, tangible opportunities to grow,” said Dr. Denise Carr, Columbia State vice president of Academic Affairs. “Through training and executive education led by UT Southern faculty, our employees will have access to high-quality professional development designed to strengthen skills, expand leadership capacity and support career advancement. We're proud to stand alongside UT Southern in this effort and excited about the opportunities it will create for our people and ultimately for the students and communities that we serve.”

The signing also marks an increase in faculty and staff collaborations for both institutions by increasing professional development activities.

“We want Columbia State faculty and staff to know that if finishing or starting a degree is part of your personal or professional goal, we are here to help,” said Dr. Melinda Arnold, UT Southern chancellor. “This is just one more way that our partnership goes beyond paperwork. It's an investment in people, in professional growth and the shared strength of our institutions. Today is more than a ceremony, it's a statement about who we are and what we value: opportunity, partnership and student success. We're proud to partner with Columbia State, and we are excited for what this agreement will make possible, one student, one degree and one bright future at a time. Together, we build communities, we expand opportunity and we change lives.”

This agreement was a shared initiative and mission by members of both institutions after months of work to make sure the agreements helped to streamline students' ease of achieving their educational goals.

“What we're doing today is giving guidance, giving a direction but also providing an option,” said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. “And then it goes for both our students, as well as our faculty and staff, who are taking advantage of the development opportunities, which is absolutely fantastic, because we all want to continue to grow. And we want our people to grow as well, because this world is changing every day, and as it changes, we too must change. I am particularly proud of this partnership. We are focused on how we can work together to be better for our students as well as our faculty, for our communities. It is through higher education that we change our world.”