Community College Collaboration
Agreements cement transfer pathways to ECU’s BSIT program
From east to west, transferring to East Carolina University’s Bachelor of Science in industrial technology (BSIT) program just got easier.
ECU officials and administrators recently signed bilateral agreements with Pitt Community College (PCC) and Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) in separate ceremonies in the high bay lab of the Science and Technology Building.
The agreements cement transfer pathways and guarantee admission to ECU’s BSIT program for PCC and BRCC graduates who meet certain requirements. Transfers who earn Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in certain technical fields and who have at least a 2.0 GPA would receive up to 75 credit hours, allowing them to complete a four-year college degree faster.
Dr. Maria Pharr, president of Pitt Community College, and Dr. Chris Buddo, provost and senior vice chancellor at ECU, exchange papers during the signing ceremony. (Photo by Ken Buday)
The BSIT program offers seven concentrations — architecture design technology; bioprocess manufacturing; distribution and logistics; industrial management; industrial engineering technology; information and cybersecurity technology; and mechanical design technology. Five of those concentrations can be completed on online, meaning graduates who have already started their careers can complete courses at their own pace and don’t have to leave their respective communities to come to ECU’s campus to get a four-year college degree.
The program, which started in 2003, is part of ECU’s Department of Technology Systems. It recently received national accolades in The Transfer Playbook, produced by the Aspen Institute and Community College Research Center, for its success in helping community college transfer students obtain bachelor’s degrees at a rate 10 percentage points higher than the national average. The report credits advising staff, online classes and an emphasis on transfer student experiences as some of the reasons behind the program’s success, calling it a model for other four-year institutions to follow.
Dr. Harry Ploehn, dean of ECU’s College of Engineering and Technology, said the BSIT program allows two-year degree holders to get a four-year college degree that can open doors to career advancement, which can lead to higher pay and a better quality of life.
He said about 40% of the college’s students have transferred from community colleges.
“Our relationships with community colleges are very important,” he said. “Through the pathway program, we work to develop relationships with community colleges. We use the ‘grow local’ approach to help increase community college enrollment and make students aware of pathways that could lead to a four-year degree through an associate of applied science degree.”
Pitt Community College
As it relates to pathways to valuable careers in technology, ECU and PCC are all in.
“We’ve got a lot of high cards right now, and we’ve got a great hand to play together,” said Ploehn, pointing to ECU’s long-standing partnership with PCC.
The signing formally bonds the two institutions in a partnership that benefits students, industry and the economy throughout eastern North Carolina.
“I’m thrilled to be signing this,” said Dr. Chris Buddo, provost and senior vice chancellor at ECU. “It’s a recognition of our shared vision for student success, and our partnership in creating workforce and economic development and bettering the lives of everyone in eastern North Carolina one student at a time. We’re really thrilled to have Pitt Community College as a partner in this.”
The agreement benefits PCC students who earn AAS degrees in any one of 14 technical programs.
“To be here today, signing a number of agreements in collaboration between Pitt Community College and East Carolina University, is something that truly needs to be celebrated,” said Dr. Maria Pharr, president of Pitt Community College. “This isn’t the work of any one person. All of the faculty, all of the deans, all of the vice presidents, provosts and department chairs, we’re all a part of developing this, and we all should feel the pride.”
Pharr said technology programs produce graduates who are go-getters.
“We know the value of these programs,” she said. “These are the students who are making things happen. They’re making things work.”
Blue Ridge Community College
The 340-mile distance between ECU and BRCC is suddenly a lot closer with the signing of the bilateral agreement. Students in BRCC’s information technology/artificial intelligence; information technology/cybersecurity; information technology/network management; and information technology/support and services are among those eligible to receive guaranteed admission to ECU’s BSIT program.
According to Jana Hosmer, chair of business programs at BRCC, a familiarity already existed between her faculty members and ECU prior to a phone call from Dr. David Batts, associate professor and coordinator of the BSIT program.
“Dr. Batts reached out about the BSIT program, and our faculty were already recommending ECU’s online program to students,” Hosmer said. “When I shared his call, they were already familiar with the BSIT program, which was great news. This agreement formalizes what we were already doing and creates a clear pathway for our students to remain local while continuing on to earn their bachelor’s degree in IT.”
Hosmer said BRCC has roughly 100 students enrolled in its IT programs and most are online.
“This is a way to continue online, stay at home, stay with their families and be able to earn their degree,” she said.
Dr. Tijjani “TJ” Mohammed, chair of ECU’s Department of Technology Systems, pointed out that online education is one of the university’s strengths.
“We’ve been doing online classes for many years and know the importance of creating and providing opportunities for our students,” he said. “The way that BSIT programs are structured, students can be where they are. We have remotely accessible labs where students can reserve a timeslot wherever they are, connect at a time that works for them and do their exercise.”
Officials from East Carolina University and Blue Ridge Community College participate in a bilateral agreement signing ceremony. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)