April 04, 2014
SIU signs transfer pacts with Kentucky college
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Two new agreements between Southern Illinois University Carbondale and West Kentucky Community & Technical College will streamline pathways for WKCTC graduates to transfer into specific SIU technical degree programs.
SIU and WKCTC recently signed two articulation agreements allowing WKCTC’s associate in applied science degrees in automotive technology and general/occupational technical studies to transfer smoothly into specific bachelor of science degrees at SIU Carbondale. The agreements will also be available to all students in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS).
"SIU has had a long history of providing baccalaureate completion degrees for technical career fields, and we want to ensure that students have well-defined transfer pathways,” SIU Chancellor Rita Cheng said.
“Our goal is to provide unlimited opportunity for college completion through dual-degree programs in partnership with WKCTC and other colleges,” she added. “These agreements validate and celebrate the choice to begin work on a bachelor's degree at SIU with an associate degree from WKCTC. Both institutions support and benefit from student success. We're pleased and honored to join with WKCTC to make this possible."
Tena Payne, vice president of academic affairs at WKCTC, agreed.
“These new agreements acknowledge expertise students receive in our technical associate in applied science degree and encourage additional education for those seeking leadership or management opportunities in their field,” Payne said. “In today’s market place the workforce is in dire need of individuals with technical skills as well as the ability to lead projects and drive the entrepreneurial business environment.”
Upon completion of an AAS degree in automotive technology from WKCTC and additional credit hours in automotive, business management and support courses at SIU, the graduate will be able to earn a bachelor’s degree in automotive technology.
“The addition of a bachelor’s degree will enable the student to focus in the areas of automotive business operations, automotive management, automotive technical education, and marketing and management,” Payne said. “Automotive and truck manufacturers, component manufacturers and suppliers, government agencies, insurance organizations, educational institutions, training and curriculum organizations, and service providers are seeking four-year automotive technology graduates.”
With this new agreement, WKCTC’s associate in applied science degree in general/occupational technical studies will transfer into SIU’s bachelor’s degree in technical resource management program.
Payne said the addition of this bachelor’s degree will prepare the student for career advancement into supervisory, management and entrepreneurial roles in their technical fields.
“SIU’s technical resource management degree will allow a student to build on numerous of technical programs at WKCTC,” Payne said. “This agreement presents a unique opportunity for students to add on to their technical credentials to earn a more advanced degree.”