NASHVILLE, Tenn.— Middle Tennessee State University signed an agreement Wednesday, Nov. 20, to extend the “True Blue Pathway” to Nashville State Community College, formalizing the eighth such partnership established for students with associate degrees to move seamlessly to the four-year university.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and Nashville State President Shanna L. Jackson signed the documents at Nashville State’s main campus off White Bridge Road.

MTSU is No. 1 in the state in transfer students and is the top institution using the reverse transfer process. Nashville State is one of MTSU’s top transfer feeder schools. In August 2018, a total of 861 former Nashville State students were enrolled at MTSU to complete their four-year degrees.

Dr. Sidney A. McPhee

Dr. Shanna L. Jackson

Nashville State is the eighth community college to join the MTSU Pathway program, where the university pledges support to help students at partner schools complete their associate degree, then move forward in seeking a four-year degree.

McPhee signed a similar agreement Oct. 29 with Chattanooga State, another Oct. 22 with Volunteer State and last February with Columbia State. The president signed agreements last year with Motlow State, Cleveland State, Southwest Tennessee in Memphis, and Dyersburg State.

MTSU recruiters are currently visiting colleges to recruit prospective transfer students for 2020 and beyond.

“Our close proximity to Nashville State and the desire of many of its students to move on to our campus for their bachelor’s degrees make this a natural win-win partnership,” McPhee said. “I appreciate Nashville State’s cooperation in helping all of us in higher education produce a highly skilled workforce for our region and state.

“The True Blue Pathway partnership takes our relationship with MTSU to the next level and reaffirms our commitment to putting students first,” Jackson said. “It simplifies the steps from Nashville State to MTSU and builds in early support for students.”

Presidents Shanna L. Jackson, left, of Nashville State Community College and Sidney A. McPhee of Middle Tennessee State University sign an agreement marking the “True Blue Pathway” to Nashville State, the eighth such agreement established for students with associate degrees to move seamlessly to the four-year university. The signing occurred Nov. 20 at Nashville State’s main campus on White Bridge Road in Nashville. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

The “pathway” agreement calls for Nashville State to share directory information with MTSU of the college’s students so they are included in tailored communications of emails and hard-copy mailings that support planning for their bachelor’s degrees after they successfully complete an associate degree.

The agreement also says Nashville State students who agree to participate in the MTSU True Blue Pathway will sign a “reverse transfer” agreement. That means if students don’t complete their associate degrees before transferring, they would automatically receive an associate degree from Nashville State they’ve completed sufficient credits at MTSU.

Through its existing Guaranteed Transfer Scholarship Program, MTSU will provide Nashville State students who transfer to the university $3,000 in aid per year for two years, or a maximum of four semesters, when they earn a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Presidents Shanna L. Jackson, left, of Nashville State Community College and Sidney A. McPhee of Middle Tennessee State University shake hands after signing an agreement marking the “True Blue Pathway” to Nashville State, the eighth such agreement established for students with associate degrees to move seamlessly to the four-year university. The signing occurred Nov. 20 at Nashville State’s main campus on White Bridge Road in Nashville. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

Students transferring to MTSU won’t eligible to apply for a Guaranteed Transfer Scholarship until they complete 45 credit hours at Nashville State.

If those students complete 60 credits with a 3.0 GPA at Nashville State, MTSU will guarantee them admission and a scholarship to attend the university for their last two years of study.

For details about the MTSU/Nashville State agreement, visit www.mtsu.edu/partners. For a comprehensive explanation of transferring to MTSU after receiving an associate degree, visit www.mtsu.edu/transfer.

Nashville State’s other campuses are in Antioch, East Davidson, Clarksville, Dickson and Humphreys County. To learn more, visit www.nscc.edu.

—Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

Administrators from MTSU and Nashville State Community College gather for a photo after a “True Blue Pathway” transfer-student agreement signing with Nashville State Nov. 20, at Nashville State’s main campus on White Bridge Road in Nashville. From left are Nashville State’s Karen Stevenson, Brad Corcoran, Sarah Roberts, Kim Silverman, Carol Martin-Osorio and President Shanna L. Jackson, joined by MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee; Dr. Deb Sells, vice president for student affairs and vice provost for enrollment and academic services; Nashville State’s Cindy Waller; and MTSU’s Linda Olsen and Mark Murphy. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)