Mount Vernon Nazarene University forms Gateway Partnership with Knox County Career Center

Mount Vernon Nazarene University has formed a Gateway Partnership with Knox County Career Center. The partnership aims to provide a more accessible path toward a college education for people who may not otherwise be able to attend a higher education institution. Additionally, the Gateway Partnership strives to strengthen the region’s workforce.

According to an article on Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s website, Dr. Carson Castleman, the university’s president, was quoted as saying of the partnership, “At its core, Gateway is about accessibility and affordability for students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue a college education. We focus on affordability, accessibility and workforce training. We want students to gain practical experience through their education and apply what they learn in real-world settings. KCCC already does an outstanding job helping students identify their next steps and prepare for future careers. Together, we want to continue strengthening our community by creating opportunities for students and families to thrive locally.”

The Gateway Partnership was first established by Mount Vernon Nazarene University in January 2024 and features partnerships between the university and businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide tuition discounts, credit evaluations, and academic pathways to help people who have not followed a traditional route find their way to a college education. 

By joining the university in the Gateway Partnership, Knox County Career Center is helping to provide its students and alumni and their families more accessible pathways to a four-year college degree. Through the partnership, nearly 12,000 KCCC alumni, students, faculty, and staff will have access to these benefits.

KCCC Superintendent Kathy Greenich said, “Our students and staff have earned valuable industry credentials and years of workforce experience that can now contribute toward a college degree. MVNU’s willingness to recognize that experience and create a bridge from the workforce to higher education is something that has not existed in the past, and we are very excited about it. We appreciate MVNU for being innovative and for creating this opportunity. We look forward to seeing the impact it will have on our alumni, staff and district as more individuals pursue higher education and earn degrees.”

MVNU Special Assistant to the President, Rev. Tavaris Taylor, added, “This partnership feels especially meaningful because it’s close to home. This is more than just a good opportunity for MVNU and KCCC. It’s a win for our county, our cities and our local community.”

For more information about Mount Vernon Nazarene University, visit the school’s website.