ECU, Wilson Community College expand transfer student opportunities
East Carolina University and Wilson Community College signed an agreement this month that expands opportunities for students to build brighter futures in eastern North Carolina.
The bilateral agreement signing ceremony in ECU’s Science and Technology Building guarantees admission to the university’s Bachelor of Science in industrial technology (BSIT) program for WCC technology graduates who meet certain requirements.
Dr. Stephanie George, interim dean of ECU’s College of Engineering and Technology, speaks during the bilateral agreement signing ceremony.
“We celebrate agreements that create clear, affordable pathways for students and strengthen the workforce pipeline in eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Stephanie George, interim dean of ECU’s College of Engineering and Technology. “This signing is about student success and helping talented individuals move seamlessly from technical programs into their bachelor’s degree programs and beyond.”
WCC graduates with Associate of Applied Science degrees in a technical field can transfer up to 75 credit hours toward a four-year bachelor’s degree, setting the stage for high-end jobs or career advancement.
“The BSIT program was designed to turn the Associates of Applied Science into a powerful springboard for a four-year degree, opening doors for working adults and technical professionals,” George said. “Nearly 40% of our students in the college are transfer students, and partnerships like this help us build bridges and not barriers. Our region is home to growing industries such as advanced manufacturing and pharmaceutical manufacturing, and this partnership ensures that we’re preparing a workforce that our region needs.”
Dr. Jami Woods, WCC president, applauded the partnership that she said would make a difference in the lives of students and in eastern North Carolina.
“ECU is a leader in welcoming community college students,” Woods said. “I think that’s so forward thinking when it comes to economic development, when it comes to thinking about the barriers students have. When students complete their community college degree, we know sometimes they can get lost in the shuffle. So, the fact that you have always welcomed them with open arms and made their pathways seamless means a lot to us because that’s our passion, just like it’s your passion — students and workforce development.”
ECU’s 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 fully online, allowing students with jobs and families to complete their four-year degrees on a schedule that’s right for them.
“We want you to know it takes a lot of faith to sign agreements like this because it means you’re handing over a very valuable treasure that you’ve nurtured and facilitated,” Dr. Allen Guidry, ECU’s associate provost of learner operations, told WCC administrators who attended the signing ceremony. “We want you to know that we’re going to take care of them once they’re here.”
He said the agreement is just another example of the university’s commitment to reduce barriers that keep students from obtaining four-year degrees. He also called it an example of ECU’s motto to be a national model for student success, success that can transform the lives of students who will fill high-paying, in-demand jobs throughout the region.
“We are obsessed with making sure that the student journey is a positive one and that it leads to that success,” Guidry said. “… We feel like partnerships like the ones we’re facilitating here today is one where we can meet students where they’re at along that journey. So, we’re excited about this and we’re excited to meet those workforce demands, and we’re really excited to be able to serve these students and live up to our motto as we help them reach their career goals.”
ECU has signed similar BSIT agreements with community colleges in Pitt, Martin, Cumberland, Lenoir, Henderson and Transylvania counties since May. ECU offers a slew of other transfer options for community college students throughout the state, including Pirate Promise that guarantees admission to associate degree graduates who have been accepted into the program.