Volunteer State Community College and the University of Tennessee at Martin celebrate partnership in Springfield

There was a standing-room-only crowd Wednesday, Nov. 29,  as Volunteer State Community College hosted a kick-off celebration for a new partnership between the University of Tennessee at Martin and Vol State Springfield that is slated to begin in January 2024, pending approval by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC, the colleges' accrediting agency).

If the two agencies approve, students will begin taking classes on this pathway in Spring Semester 2024. 

“We’re excited to partner with the UT System and the addition of the UT Martin Campus as our new university partner to serve as a regional center for Middle Tennessee,” said Nicholas Bishop, Vol State vice president of workforce development and regional centers.

The partnership will focus on agriculture, health care, and technology-sector pathways with agriculture business degrees being the first-phase focus. Vol State will focus on delivering technical certificates and associate degrees, while UTM will focus on bachelor's and master's degrees. The concept is aimed at creating the ability for individuals to earn their associate up to a graduate level degree without having to leave Robertson County or the surrounding communities. 

“We think this partnership will be a positive boost for Northern Middle Tennessee and Robertson County’s economic and workforce development progress," Bishop said. "UTM and Vol State are finalizing a dual admissions agreement that will allow students to be enrolled in both institutions simultaneously and receive support from both as they progress through multiple degree and training levels.”