In a three-week stretch, Middle Tennessee State University’s transfer admissions team will meet with prospective students at nine community colleges across Tennessee.

It’s the annual MTSU Promise Tour to reach out to students — from Knoxville to Memphis and from Dyersburg to Chattanooga — in time for them to meet the Feb. 15 deadline for the guaranteed transfer scholarship, which is $3,000 per year for qualifiers.

The MTSU Promise at eight of the colleges is the university’s commitment to make the transfer process as smooth as possible.

In some cases, the university has signed special agreements with the community colleges to ensure clear pathways; MTSU and Nashville State Community College, for example, have a “True Blue Pathway” agreement.

MTSU transfer coordinator Zach Thompson, left, and prospective MTSU student Tiffany Harvey laugh after Thompson gives Harvey an ID card he made for her in January 2019 during the “MTSU Promise Tour” visit to Chattanooga State Community College. This year’s tour to nine campuses begins Jan. 28 at Dyersburg State and end Feb. 13 at Chattanooga State. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

The MTSU Promise Tour kicks off Tuesday, Jan. 28, in Dyersburg, Tennessee, at Dyersburg State Community College, the first of three scheduled visits a week for three weeks to answer questions and discuss the transfer process for applications, scholarship opportunities, academic programs and more.

Other upcoming visits include:

• Jan. 29 — Jackson State Community College.

• Jan. 30 — Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin.

• Feb. 4 — Nashville State Community College.

• Feb. 5 — Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville.

• Feb. 6 — Motlow State Community College‘s Smyrna campus.

• Feb. 11 — Southwest Tennessee State Community College in Memphis.

• Feb. 12 — Columbia State Community College at its Student Center.

• Feb. 13 — Chattanooga State Community College.

All of the events are scheduled 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time.

Nashville State Community College student Dravidi Pasha, left, receives advice about transferring from MTSU transfer coordinators Zach Thompson, center, and Jeana Nier in this February 2019 file photo. Pasha now is a senior in MTSU’s Jones College of Business. The “MTSU Promise Tour” runs Jan. 28-Feb. 13 at nine community colleges. MTSU takes its “True Blue Pathway” event to Nashville State’s main campus Feb. 4. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

“Our goal is to meet the students where they are and help assist the transition from their community college to MTSU after they have completed their associate degrees,” said Mark Murphy, assistant director of transfer admissions.

Mark Murphy

“Community colleges in our state do a wonderful job preparing students for the next level whether it is a career or classroom at a four-year university,” Murphy added. “We want to make sure students know what MTSU has to offer and how we can help them reach their goals.”

At the stops, MTSU staff can help students:

• Apply for admission to MTSU at www.mtsu.edu/applynow.

• Learn more about the Tennessee Transfer Pathways and other programs to help students transfer successfully.

• Obtain an MTSU ID card if the students are already admitted.

Throughout the spring 2020 semester, MTSU transfer enrollment coordinators will be visiting all 13 of Tennessee’s community colleges to assist students in navigating the enrollment process, Murphy said.

Anyone with questions about transferring to MTSU can email transfer@mtsu.edu.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

Prospective MTSU transfer students can follow the signs to any of the nine upcoming “MTSU Promise Tour” events at community colleges across Tennessee from Jan. 28 until Feb. 13. MTSU admissions transfer staff can assist with the transfer process. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)