MTSU, Cleveland State sign transfer agreement

MTSU President Sidney A. McPHee and Cleveland State Community College President Billy Seymour sign a transfer agreement.
MTSU President Sidney A. McPHee and Cleveland State Community College President Billy Seymour sign a transfer agreement.

The presidents of Middle Tennessee State University and Cleveland State Community College signed an agreement Tuesday making it easier for community college students to transfer into the university.

MTSU's President Sidney McPhee said the school has been actively recruiting transfer students for years, and has been working with community colleges to make students' transfer into the university "seamless."

Touting MTSU's ranking as the school that enrolls the most transfer students in the state, McPhee said partnerships like the one signed with Cleveland State are very strategic for the university.

He said the university is now asking "with Tennessee Promise, how should MTSU take its partnerships to the next level?"

Tennessee Promise was signed into law last year as a part of Gov. Bill Haslam's "Drive to 55" initiative, which aims to boost the rate of college graduates in Tennessee from 32 to 55 percent within the next 10 years. The program offers graduating high school students a last-dollar scholarship, providing them with two years of free post-secondary education at any of the state's 13 community colleges, 27 colleges of applied technology or any eligible institution offering an associate's degree program.

Agreements similar to the one signed Tuesday between MTSU and Cleveland State have happened among schools across the state, and they have potential to greatly benefit Tennessee Promise students by offering them access to the faculty at universities and providing them ways to ensure their credits count toward specific programs and majors.

This agreement will allow Cleveland State associate degree students the ability to register early for classes at MTSU and will allow the community college's honor students to transfer into MTSU's honor program.

"We are excited about this new partnership with MTSU," stated Cleveland State's President Bill Seymour. "This program really is a win/win for both institutions, but more importantly it is a win/win for our students. They are the ones reaping the benefits from the opportunities that exist at both institutions."

Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.

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