Columbia State Community College partners with University of Tennessee Southern for co-admission and transfer agreements

Columbia State Community College and University of Tennessee Southern have signed co-admission and transfer agreements that will create a pathway for CSCC students who have earned an associate degree to earn a bachelor degree from UT Southern. In addition to the co-admission and transfer agreements, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed that will provide professional development for faculty members at both institutions. 

According to an article on Columbia State Community College’s website, Dr. Janet F. Smith, who serves as the college’s president, was quoted as saying of the agreements, “What we're doing today is giving guidance, giving a direction but also providing an option. 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.”

Students who participate in the co-admission program are given guaranteed admission to UT Southern after they complete their associate degree with Columbia State Community College. 

Dr. Prentice Chandler, UT Southern’s provost, said, “Co-admission sends a clear message to students; you are not starting over when you transfer. 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.”

Students who participate in the transferring from CSCC to UT Southern will benefit from guidance from both institutions. They will also be eligible for priority registration at UT Southern during the same semester they graduate from CSCC.

The additional Memorandum of Understanding signed by both institutions is directed at faculty members. The MOU will facilitate professional development opportunities that can be attended by faculty members from both CSCC and UT Southern. There will be scholarship opportunities, called the First Flight Scholarship and the University Partnership Scholarship, for CSCC employees to earn a degree from UT Southern. 

Dr. Melinda Arnold, the UT Southern chancellor, said, “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. 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.”

Dr. Denise Carr, Columbia State Community College’s vice president of Academic Affairs, added, “Through this partnership, our faculty and staff are gaining real, tangible opportunities to grow. 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.”

For more information about Columbia State Community College, visit the school’s website.

For more information about UT Southern, visit the school’s website.