VSU Pathways Program Allows Students to Earn a College Degree

VSU President William J. McKinney addresses representatives from Technical College System of Georgia institutions and two-year colleges during the Pathways Program Summit on Sept. 22.

VALDOSTA--Valdosta State University hosted a Pathways Program Summit on Sept. 22. The focus was on the university’s highly successful partnerships that helps streamline the transfer process for students who earn an associate degree and wish to continue their education at VSU and graduate with a four-year degree. 
  
Representatives from Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) institutions and two-year colleges in Georgia and North Florida attended the summit, which included remarks from VSU President William J. McKinney, Provost Hudson P. Rogers, and Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Communications Andy Clark. Following a tour of the campus, guests received information regarding VSU’s growing online degree options and programs at the graduate level.
     
“VSU is the leader in providing access to students who have completed their academic requirements at a technical institution and are ready to earn a four-year degree,” said McKinney. “We have earned the recognition as the ‘transfer partner of choice’ when it comes to working with students from Technical College System of Georgia institutions and community colleges across Georgia and North Florida.”
  
First established with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College in 2013, VSU’s Pathways Program currently has 10 agreements with TCSG institutions throughout the state. Other schools included in the program are the Community College of the Air Force, Georgia Military College, North Florida Community College, and Central Texas College.
     
“The Pathways Program provides a seamless transfer process for students to earn an associate degree at Wiregrass and continue their education at Valdosta State,” said Dr. Shawn Utley, executive vice president for Community and College Relations at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. “It is important for our students to have the workforce ready skills they acquire at Wiregrass, and then they can begin working full time and continue their education at Valdosta State through the accessible online bachelor’s degree programs.” 
         
The Pathways Program centers on the priorities of Complete College Georgia, an initiative developed to increase the number of Georgians earning a college degree. In 2012, University System of Georgia and TCSG institutions submitted plans to achieve the ambitious goal of adding
 
Technical Colleges System of Georgia:
Albany Technical College
Altamaha Technical College
Central Georgia Technical College
Gwinnett Technical College
Lanier Technical College
North Georgia Technical College
Savannah Technical College
South Georgia Technical College
Southwest Georgia Technical College
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

 
Community Colleges/Two-year Institutions:
Central Texas College
Community College of the Air Force
Georgia Military College
North Florida Community College