GALLATIN (November 4, 2022)
Mechatronics students at Volunteer State Community College have a new pathway to earning a bachelor’s degree thanks to a new partnership with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
During a virtual meeting on Friday, Nov. 4, a new mechatronics-focused articulation agreement was made official between Volunteer State Community College and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The articulation agreement guarantees UTC admission to mechatronics students who have successfully completed the 60-credit-hour Associate of Applied Science in the Mechatronics degree program at Volunteer State Community College, located in Gallatin, Tennessee. The articulation agreement lays out a clear path for the remaining 66 credits of courses to be completed at UTC to receive a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Mechatronics Engineering Technology.
Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field of study that focuses on integration of electrical and mechanical systems and includes robotics, automation and industrial controls.
President of Volunteer State Community College, Dr. Orinthia Montague states, “To have this seamless transfer agreement in place for our students in a time when graduates in this area are in such high demand is quite exciting. This transition is a natural progression for our students looking to further their education to the bachelor’s degree level and beyond.”
Dr. Tim Dean, professor and chair of the Mechatronics program at Vol State shared, "This agreement will offer a fantastic opportunity for past, current, and future Vol State Mechatronics students and graduates who choose to continue their education at UT-Chattanooga and pursue a bachelor's degree. Mechatronics is a field that requires a commitment to life-long learning and this agreement will provide a pathway for our graduates to continue their education."
To make transfers from Volunteer State Community College to area four-year universities as seamless as possible, the College works with regional partners to develop plans so that students know what classes need to be taken before enrolling at a four-year university.
“This agreement will provide students from middle Tennessee with a seamless pathway to receive an associate degree at Vol State and a BAS degree in Mechatronics Engineering Technology at UTC,” said UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Daniel Pack. “Given the continuing growth of the Tennessee’s manufacturing industry, the pathway is one-way higher education institutions working together to contribute toward the state’s efforts to generate additional workforce needed in the state’s evolving manufacturing sector.”
According to Dr. Shane Talbot, dean of the Math and Science Division at Vol State, “Mechatronics allows students to pursue a career in advanced manufacturing with foundations in computer programming and engineering technology. It is a great degree for those students who have an aptitude for hands-on learning.”
Volunteer State participants in the signing agreement, conducted via Zoom, included:
- President Orinthia Montague
- Vice President for Academic Affairs Jennifer Brezina
- Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Terri Day
- Director of Advising Terry Bubb
- Dean of Mathematics and Science Shane Talbott
- Engineering Faculty/Mechatronics Chair Tim Dean
UTC participants included:
- Chancellor Steven R. Angle
- Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jerold Hale
- College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean Daniel Pack
- College of Engineering and Computer Science Associate Dean Michael Danquah
- Engineering Management and Technology Department Head and Burkett Miller Chair of Excellence Ahad Nasab
About Vol State Community College
Volunteer State Community College is a public, two-year community college located just north of Nashville, Tennessee. Since 1971, the college has grown to four campus locations in Gallatin, Livingston, Cookeville and Springfield with over 100 areas of study offered. With over 7,000 students, Vol State is a leading higher education provider for eleven counties in middle Tennessee. For more information or to apply online, visit www.volstate.edu/admissions.
