Officials from MTSU and Southwest Georgia’s Albany Technical College signed an agreement allowing students who graduate with an associate degree from Albany Tech to transfer to MTSU to earn their bachelor’s degree in electromechanical engineering technology.

At the signing of the agreement, MTSU Provost Brad Bartel stated to Albany Technical College President Anthony Parker...

The campuses are about six hours apart.  This marks the first time MTSU has gone beyond the state’s borders to forge such a partnership.

The purpose of the agreement is to facilitate the transfer of Albany Tech students to MTSU; to provide specific advisement for Albany Tech students who intend to transfer to MTSU; and to encourage academic and administrative coordination between the institutions in the electromechanical engineering technology program.

More on this agreement:

“MTSU welcomes this innovative articulation and transfer agreement with Albany Technical College,” Bartel said. “The agreement satisfies the need for students from this Georgia college to come to MTSU and articulate their associate degree with MTSU coursework in electromechanical engineering technology for our Bachelor of Science degree. We are honored that Albany Technical College chose MTSU for this 2+2 program.”

Parker said four of his community’s 21st century manufacturers “will likely employ graduates with the skills that ATC and MTSU can jointly provide.”

“The hybrid electrical and mechanical degree will provide skill sets in the exact proportions needed by our region’s manufacturers,” Parker added.  “We expect that a number of graduates from ATC’s associate degree program will want the career advancement that a bachelor’s degree can provide. We are grateful to Middle Tennessee State and look forward to a long relationship.”

Albany Tech Executive Vice President and VP of Academic Affairs Shirley Armstrong, dean of Academic Affairs Emmett L. Griswold and electromechanical engineering technology program Chair Chase Mumford also attended the signing, held in the Student Union President’s Executive Conference Room.

Engineering Technology Chair Walter Boles credits MTSU professor Chong Chen and Mumford with “laying the groundwork on the actual academic curriculum.”

“We’re always excited about getting new students in our program,” Boles said. “Safe to say, we are very pleased Albany Technical College searched and found our program. Their desire to have an articulation agreement with us is very rewarding.”

Boles said Albany Tech students wanting to be in the MTSU program will need to ask for in-state tuition when applying.

Albany Tech has about 4,000 students and electromechanical engineering technology is one of many areas of study. Mumford said there are 50 students in this concentration.

MTSU has about 650 students majoring in the various engineering technology concentrations. This includes about 150 in electromechanical engineering technology and 60 following the first year with a mechatronics engineering technology concentration.

MTSU has four other transfer agreements, one with Motlow College (early childhood education), two with Columbia State (nursing and early childhood education) and an agribusiness agreement with the Columbia State-Lewisburg campus.