Colleges formalize partnership for technical education programs

Hinds Community College and Mississippi State University have agreed to formalize partnerships for students enrolled in technical education programs.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions sets guidelines to complete MSU’s new Bachelor of Applied Science program, which clears a new pathway to advanced degrees for students in career and technical education.

“The idea of transferring technical credits toward a baccalaureate degree is unique and shows the kind of flexibility Mississippi State University has,” Hinds President Dr. Clyde Muse said during a virtual signing ceremony held Thursday, Nov. 14. Muse and MSU President Dr. Mark Keenum sat in their respective executive office spaces and talked via video conference.

“We’ve had a number of these types of memorandums with Mississippi State, but in all these years we’ve never had a virtual signing,” Muse said. “It’s due to the great work of the people of both Hinds and Mississippi State University to put this together. The idea of transferring technical credits toward a baccalaureate degree is unique and shows the kind of flexibility Mississippi State University has.”

Effective Jan. 1, the agreement allows for a directory of acceptable technical courses delivered at Hinds which will apply to the new bachelor’s program at MSU. An advisor is to be housed at the Hinds Raymond Campus and will be employed jointly by the two institutions. Also, Hinds and the university’s Meridian Campus will work together to provide classroom space to deliver synchronous online courses.

“For the first time ever in the state of Mississippi, one of our IHL institutions can now accept your graduates and accept all 60 of their hours – with 45 of those being technical hours – and apply them toward a bachelor’s degree,” Keenum said during the ceremony.

MSU launched its Bachelor of Applied Science program in August, significantly expanding the university’s acceptance of technical credit from community colleges and military training. It is intended to serve the needs of adults who have completed a technical associate degree program through a community college or the military and need additional education to advance their careers.

For more on the Bachelor of Applied Science program, visit https://www.msstate.edu/students/bachelor-of-applied-science.