On April 1, Vance-Granville Community College leaders traveled to Greenville, North Carolina, for a bilateral settlement signing ceremony with East Carolina University’s College of Engineering & Technology.
The new partnership ensures admission to ECU’s Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology program for certified VGCC graduates with Associate of Applied Science degrees in technical fields.
The settlement underscores alternatives for these graduates to advance their careers with a four-year diploma from ECU, increasing the chances offered by their Vance-Granville training. Such credentials can lead to higher-paying jobs and broader financial advantages for native communities and the area.
“The BSIT program was intentionally designed to turn the Associate in Applied Science into a powerful springboard to something beyond a four-year degree for working adults and technical professionals,” mentioned CET Interim Dean Stephanie George. “We celebrate these agreements that create clear, affordable, and achievable pathways for students, pathways that strengthen North Carolina’s workforce and support economic vitality across our state.”
ECU’s BSIT program affords seven concentrations: Architecture Design Technology, Bioprocess Manufacturing, Distribution & Logistics, Industrial Management, Industrial Engineering Technology, Information & Cybersecurity Technology, and Mechanical Design Technology. Five of these concentrations will be accomplished absolutely on-line, permitting VGCC graduates with jobs and households to earn their bachelor’s degrees on a versatile schedule.
“That’s the beauty of the transfer pathway,” mentioned Allen Guidry, ECU’s affiliate provost for learner operations. “We provide an opportunity for students to start where they’re comfortable, to stay where they’re comfortable, and hopefully to remain where they’re comfortable through the duration of their careers if that’s what they want to do. That’s an important part, I think, of workforce development.”
Vance-Granville graduates who earn an Associate in Applied Science in certainly one of seven technical fields and preserve at the least a 2.0 GPA are eligible for assured admission to ECU’s BSIT program, with up to 61 credit score hours transferred. Those applications embody:
• Automotive Systems Technology
• Biotechnology
• Electronics Engineering Technology
• Information Technology
• Mechatronics Engineering Technology
• Supply Chain Management — Global Logistics Technology
• Welding Technology
VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais famous how the partnership notably advantages grownup learners age 25 and older, serving to them advance in manufacturing, biotechnology, and different STEM-related industries throughout the College’s four-county service space.
“These are people who started late in life, went back to get their associate’s degrees as adults, were working in the field, and you provided a way for them to get there,” she advised ECU directors and school in the course of the ceremony. “We just appreciate your willingness to partner with us, and we’re really excited.”
The new switch partnership coincides with the College’s continued growth of its Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Applied Technology. Once full, the state-of-the-art coaching facility will equip college students in electronics, fabrication, HVAC, industrial upkeep, mechatronics, and welding applications with expertise for in-demand careers or additional training at establishments like ECU.
To find out about extra switch choices accessible to Vance-Granville Community College college students, go to VGCC’s on-line Transfer Center or name (252) 738-3255.