The University of Tennessee announces a new collaborative partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville & Knoxville College

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has entered into a collaborative partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville and Knoxville College that reinforces UT’s commitment to connect the university’s knowledge and resources with the community in mutually beneficial ways, UT announced Thursday.

Rooted in equity and reciprocity, the partnership sparks the possibility of great opportunities that will continue to make higher education more accessible to all citizens in the region, the UT announcement says. Driven by three areas of impact—infrastructure, community engagement, and specialty programs—the institutions will work to create an educational pathway from a technical certificate to an associate’s degree and to the many degree offerings at UT.

A series of community engagement initiatives and workshops for students at each institution is underway. And as a national leader in digital collections, UT Libraries will provide TCAT and KC students with access to enhance their academic experience, according to the announcement.

With proximity to UT and its high research activity and highly ranked programs, the partnership has the potential to inspire students such as those in TCAT’s Fiber Optics program to advance their education at UT.

“UT is excited to partner with KC and TCAT to build capacity to support critical educational pathways in our community. This is an opportunity to leverage all of our collective resources to impact education in a real and meaningful way,” said Tyvi Small, UT’s vice chancellor for diversity and engagement.

TCAT Knoxville President Kelli Chaney said the College of Applied Technology “is pleased to be part of this partnership because of the opportunities it provides our students and all the students of the Knoxville area, including access to the UT Libraries and especially the potential pathway from a technical certificate to the many degree offerings at UT. The technical education that our students receive is an excellent foundation for continued studies toward a bachelor’s degree and beyond. We have always worked together, but we are deeply appreciative of UT and Knoxville College for this enhanced partnership.”

TCAT Knoxville's main campus at 1100 Liberty Street, off Sutherland Avenue, is about two miles from the UT campus. Through its five locations in Knox, Anderson and Blount counties, TCAT Knoxville offers students 19 different career and technical education programs. The public institution is one of the 27 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology and 13 Community Colleges comprising the College System of Tennessee, governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

UT is the state's flagship land-grant university and premier public research institution and part of The University of Tennessee System.

UT also will help support the accreditation process of Knoxville College, the area’s only historically Black college or university.

“This strategic partnership with like institutions and like ideas is the catalyst for an educational–technical collective impact model serving youth and adults at all levels. We will put words to action as we educate, empower, and elevate our shared students and the Black experience in Knoxville,” said Leonard Adams, Knoxville College interim president.

UT's announcement is here: https://news.utk.edu/2021/02/25/new-partnership-increase-access-higher-education/