TRANSFERS IN TECH
Event highlights opportunities at ECU for transfer students
Navya Agrawal wasn’t alone, sitting at a table full of students who had driven about four hours to learn about East Carolina University’s technology programs and transfer options.
“I wanted to see if I could transfer my degree over,” said Agrawal, a student at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte. “I’m getting my Associate of Applied Science in architectural technology. In architecture, you need a bachelor’s degree to be able to do anything.”
Dr. Robin Coger, provost at East Carolina University, talks to transfer day attendees at the Murphy Center. Cover highlighted the partnership between ECU and the state’s community college system that is helping education North Carolina residents.
About 150 community college students, faculty and administrators came to Greenville for ECU’s Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT) and Technology Systems Transfer Day. The event highlighted ECU’s BSIT degree program, a nationally recognized program designed for students and adult learners with a technical or industrial related Associate of Applied Science degree who are looking to boost their careers with a four-year degree.
Will Parrish, in his last semester at Johnston Community College in Smithfield, spent some time at a transcript evaluation table to ensure he was on the right track to transfer. He hopes to continue his education in information and cybersecurity technology.
“My instructors told me ECU had a good program, so I wanted to come to see what it’s all about,” said Parrish, whose parents are both ECU graduates.
The event featured representatives from 19 community colleges from across the state, evidence of an important partnership, ECU Provost Robin Coger said in her opening remarks. The BSIT program alone includes students who started their educations at 49 of the state’s 58 community colleges.
“Here at ECU, we do really, truly understand and appreciate the tremendous contributions that North Carolina’s community colleges are making, providing crucial avenues for educating the citizens of our state,” she said.
And when students are ready, specific programs such as the College of Engineering and Technology Student Success Center and the Military and Veterans Resource Center can help community college students and adult learners make an easy transition to ECU, she said.
The Department of Technology Systems, part of ECU’s College of Engineering and Technology, has the largest number of military affiliated students in the university.
“You can begin to get a glimpse of the depths of our commitment to partnering with you, the faculty, staff and students of North Carolina’s community colleges and high schools, in working together to help North Carolinians from across this great state earn their four-year degrees,” Coger said.
Beyond the BSIT program, ECU’s Department of Technology Systems offers undergraduate degrees in design,industrial distribution and logistics, industrial engineering technology, and information and cybersecurity technology. Graduate degrees in network technology, occupational safety and technology management are also available.
Shawn Allison, program chair for supply chain management at Central Piedmont Community College, said the opportunity to learn more about transfer options for his program’s 100 students prompted his attendance.
Joseph Snow, a student at Johnston Community College, gets information about online options at ECU.
“I can see the university has a pretty extensive industrial technology program,” he said.
Allison also met with Dr. Mark Angolia, assistant professor of industrial distribution and logistics at ECU, to discuss ideas.
“He offered some possible suggestions for simulations that I can look at to enhance our existing distribution and procurement courses,” he said.
He said many don’t understand the importance of distribution and logistics.
“It’s significant in Charlotte. Logistics touches every aspect of business. It’s a critical piece,” Allison said. “Whether it’s nursing, welding, construction, business or banking, there is some component of logistics or supply chain in all of those areas. My goal is to make that connection so people understand how it’s integral to all types of disciplines.”
Dr. Tijjani (TJ) Mohammed, chair of ECU’s Department of Technology Systems, told attendees that some students may not even have to leave their homes to get ECU degrees thanks to the university’s technological ability to serve online students.
“ECU is leading the way. We’ve been a trailblazer,” he said, noting rankings that have ECU as the top online university in the state. “We’ve created an environment that allows people to connect to us remotely and live anywhere in the world. We’re driving the state in leading this technology.”
He said ECU and the state’s community colleges share a common goal of educating residents and providing the workforce of tomorrow.
“We truly believe in making a difference in this great state of North Carolina,” he said.