Transfer partnership agreements were signed between Capital University and two community colleges, Zane State College and Washington State College, on May 19 during a signing ceremony at the Advanced Science & Technology Center located on the ZSC campus. The agreements create affordable, accessible pathways to certain four-year degrees and support students through seamless transfer experiences.
“This is a meaningful day for our institution, but more importantly, it is a meaningful day for students and families across this region of Ohio, a region I know well and care deeply about,” said Dr. Jared R. Tice, president of Capital University. “I grew up not far from here in the Mid-Ohio Valley, and I know the talent, determination, work ethic, and promise that exist in communities like Zanesville, Marietta, and across southeastern Ohio. Too often, students from this part of the state and region are asked to see education as a series of separate doors, one institution here, another there, each with its own systems, requirements, costs, and barriers. Today, we are saying something different. We are saying that higher education should work more like an ecosystem. In a healthy forest, strength does not come from one tree standing alone. It comes from connection. Roots intertwine. Nutrients are shared. Light is made available for new growth. Established trees create conditions for young ones to rise. And the whole forest becomes more resilient because each part contributes to the flourishing of a whole. That is what today represents between these three institutions.”
Presidents Joe Keating (Interim President) of Zane State College and Dr. Sarah Parker of Washington State College of Ohio both attended to share in the exciting new chapter this agreement represents for all institutions involved and to sign for their respective colleges.
“Zane State has long believed that for our students, this is only not just a start, but there is a beginning that they have further to go. And that belief is exactly what this agreement represents between the three of us,” Keating stated. “And I think that as we continue to support Capital University and expand, we want to create clear and affordable ways that support our students to achieve a long-term objective, whether that’s going on to a career, whether that’s actually engaging in a bachelor’s degree program, or beyond. We want to empower those students to be able to do that.”
The agreements create pathways for students to obtain a bachelor’s degree in the areas of business (management, accounting, finance, and marketing), social work, and health sciences (including physical therapy assistant to exercise science pathways, with more programs pending approval).
“This partnership is really important from the standpoint that it provides our students pathway opportunities for bachelors and beyond. Our institution, we provide an affordable education experience here that gives students pathways to other institutions that have that bachelors degree program. While we have a bachelor’s degree program here in our Electronic Engineering Program, these other opportunities give students, like we said, bachelor’s degrees in business, social work, or exercise sciences. That’s where this really helps us to provide those opportunities for students. It gives them an opportunity to elevate their skill set that employers will want and give them opportunities to say, ‘you know, an associate degree is awesome, but I also want to get a bachelor’s or maybe a master’s or go further.’ So, this is what we’re doing. We’re providing opportunities here for the local workforce and the students.”
For more information about Zane State College, please visit zanestate.edu.
CAPTION: Representatives from Capital University, Zane State College, and Washington State College attended the signing ceremony. | CREDIT: Matthew Dotson, The Buzz
