Thanks to a new formal agreement, Central Georgia Technical College students who complete that institution’s Associate of Science in General Studies can now more easily transfer into a bachelor’s degree program at Middle Georgia State University.
 
Leaders at Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) and Middle Georgia State (MGA) signed an articulation agreement on Thursday, Oct. 24, which provides graduates of that specific program a clear pathway to a four-year degree. CGTC students who complete the associate’s degree are eligible to transfer credit provided they meet MGA’s admissions requirements.
 
“Both Central Georgia Tech and Middle Georgia State play vital roles in helping students gain the knowledge and skills they need to pursue professional careers and contribute to the social and cultural wellbeing of this region,” said Dr. Jon Anderson, MGA’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We are proud to partner with CGTC to create a clear path from an associate’s to a bachelor’s degree for students who want it.”
 
CGTC is part of the Technical College System of Georgia, which oversees the state’s 22 technical colleges, adult literacy programs, and a host of economic and workforce development programs. MGA is part of the University System of Georgia, which is composed of 26 higher education institutions including four research universities, four comprehensive universities, nine state universities and nine state colleges.
 
For years, course transferability between the two systems has been prohibitive for a variety of reasons, including varying missions between the two higher education systems in Georgia. However, since 2012, the University System and the Technical College System have had a standing agreement for transferability of 28 general core courses. This new articulation agreement between CGTC and MGA expands on this existing transfer agreement and guarantees acceptance of the associate’s degree in full.
 
“The general studies articulation agreement allows CGTC graduates the opportunity for a more seamless pathway into multiple baccalaureate programs of study at Middle Georgia State University,” said Dr. Amy Holloway, vice president for academic affairs at CGTC. “This new partnership complements our existing agreements with MGA in program areas such as business, IT, and criminal justice to expand access to affordable quality higher education in our community. This agreement is a win for our graduates interested in earning a four-year degree without losing credits and having to leave their homes.”
 
State and system leaders realize the benefits for all of Georgia’s students, and more institutions from both state systems are partnering together to provide pathways and opportunities to those seeking higher education. By signing articulation agreements, students are less likely to repeat identical coursework, therefore helping students achieve their educational goals more quickly and increasing the competitive workforce in Georgia.
 
The new agreement between CGTC and MGA is a formal recognition that the technical college’s general studies associate’s degree satisfies the university’s core curriculum requirements. The core curriculum is a set of common courses required of all undergraduates that are traditionally completed in the first two years of a university education.
 
CGTC and MGA will work together to promote the transfer opportunity to students who want to continue toward a bachelor’s degree program.
 
In addition to Anderson and Holloway, CGTC President Dr. Ivan H. Allen and MGA President Dr. Christopher Blake  signed the agreement during a ceremony held on the university’s Macon Campus.