Technology Partners

ECU teams with Martin Community College to benefit tech students

East Carolina University students walked by huge windows in the Science and Technology Building to see a long table adorned in purple and gold — and an unexpected black tablecloth with red letters.

Administrators and faculty in ECU’s College of Engineering and Technology welcomed Martin Community College for a bilateral agreement signing ceremony as the two institutions formalized a partnership that aims to benefit students and the region.

“You’re an important partner in our shared mission to expand educational opportunity and transform lives across eastern North Carolina,” Dr. Stephanie George, interim dean of the college, told the MCC representatives. “This is more than just a signing. It’s a celebration of access and upward mobility.”

Dr. Tabitha Miller, president of Martin Community College, speaks with Dr. Tijjani “TJ” Mohammed, chair of the East Carolina University Department of Technology Systems, at the bilateral agreement signing ceremony.

The agreement provides guaranteed admission to MCC graduates with Associate in Applied Science degrees in a technical field to ECU’s Bachelor of Science in industrial technology (BSIT) program. The qualifying transfer students can receive up to 75 credit hours toward their four-year bachelor’s degree at ECU.

George explained that AAS degrees in the past marked an end to one’s educational journey. She said the BSIT program opens the door to a bachelor’s degree that will brighten the futures for Martin County residents who will enjoy a better quality of life through career advancement. Businesses and industry will benefit from well-qualified employees, which in turn will enhance the region’s economy.

“This partnership exemplifies the very spirit of student success, public service and regional transformation that defines our work at the College of Engineering and Technology,” she said. “The BSIT program, housed in our Department of Technology Systems, was created to provide more onramps for working adult learners. It turns what was once considered a terminal degree — the AAS — into a powerful launching pad for a four-year degree and beyond. This is a game-changer for students, families and communities.”

Of added importance is that five of seven concentrations in the program — information and cybersecurity technology; industrial engineering technology; distribution and logistics; bioprocess manufacturing; and industrial management — can be completed online or in person on ECU’s campus. This allows students to remain in Martin County while taking classes, saving the time of a commute to Greenville while also allowing them to maintain their current employment status. The architectural and mechanical design concentrations do require in-person classes at ECU.

Dr. Allen Guidry, associate provost for learner operations at ECU, said he grew up in a town of 535 people, so he fully understands what the agreement means, especially in rural areas such as Martin and Bertie counties.

“All I see are opportunities,” he said of the partnership. “When I look around this room, all I see our people who embrace the needs of our region.”

He said the signing is just one example of ECU’s commitment to better the lives of people across the state through higher education.

“We are building as many mechanisms as we can to build pathways for students in places like Martin County, like Bertie County, so they can get their bachelor’s degrees or master’s degrees,” he said. “We take that very seriously.”

Dr. Tabitha Miller, president of Martin Community College, said the signing highlights the college’s responsibility to provide residents with the best educational opportunities.

“It is a big deal for Martin County and for Bertie County,” she said. “It showcases how they can stay in their homes and get a good college degree. These types of agreements show them what is possible.”

The BSIT 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.