HCC President Ervin Griffin Sr. and ECSU Chancellor Thomas Conway signed the documents today at a ceremony in Weldon.
The program could begin as early as December, officials said following the signing.
For students like Shereen Butler, who earned her associates in applied science, the program came just in time. “I don’t have to travel so far,” she said following the ceremony. “If this didn’t come about, I was going to relocate.”
Now, she said, she can work on her bachelor of science in social work from HCC. “I really want to focus on single parents. I want to become a counselor.”
Conway said the program has mutual benefits for both schools. “I think we’re heading to a great partnership.”
Officials from both schools said the agreement has been a work in progress and both schools “are looking forward to the partnership.”
Griffin said the partnership can be used as a tool to promote student success as well as economic development. “We appreciate the attention that clearly states the courses. It makes them even more valuable.”
The program enhances the partnership between the two schools, the agreement states, as a 2+2 teacher preparation program has already been established on the HCC campus. That program allows students in the program to earn an associate in pre-elementary education before completing their junior and senior level courses at ECSU for their BS degree in elementary education.
It is a five-year agreement at which time it will be evaluated by both schools.
ECSU will broadcast instruction, which allows live instruction to up to five sites at once.
Conway could not rule out the possibility of further degree offerings in the future. “We will have to look at the success of the partnership.”
If it is done, Conway said, “It will be programs which make sense.”