TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Troy University’s College of Science and Engineering is recognizing its new partnership with Enterprise State Community College (ESCC).
Thursday, the two schools participated in a signing ceremony that marked the beginning of the new agreement. The agreement will allow ESCC mechatronics students to transfer into Troy’s Electrical and Electronics Engineering program. ESCC President Danny Long said the agreement is a milestone for his institution.
“It’s awfully rewarding, but ultimately what it means is more opportunities for our students,” Long said. “When you sign an articulation agreement with a university like Troy, it validates the work and effort we’ve put into making this a rigorous program.”
Troy will now accept credits that are not typically transferable when students leave community college and enter a four-year university. Several technical courses including circuit analysis, digital electronics and solid-state electronics will transfer directly into Troy’s engineering curriculum.
Aubri Hanson, a mechatronics instructor at ESCC, said the agreement benefits students in the Wiregrass region.
“This new agreement offers a pathway for students to attend a four-year university, but still be close to home,” Hanson said. “We have partnerships with other universities, but they’re farther away.
“Sometimes that requires students to move and sometimes that’s more expensive. This allows our students to stay close to their friends and their families but still have access to a high-level education.”
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Although the agreement is between ESCC and Troy, Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. explained how he thinks the agreement could impact the entire state long-term.
“One thing we do know is many graduates that matriculate to two-year colleges through Troy University choose to stay in this part of Alabama,” Hawkins said. “We believe that this agreement is just another way that we can meet the growing needs of engineering.
“We’ve become the Detroit of the south. Engineering is important in our growing department of defense industry, medical needs and other STEM related areas.
“We believe that by growing new, high-quality programs at Troy that prepare graduates for the workforce, we will make an important contribution to both the quality of life and the economic development of Alabama.”
Chief academic officers from Troy and ESCC will review the partnership every two years. If either school chooses to end the agreement, students enrolled in the program will still have time to complete their degree.
