ASU, ATC presidents sign enhanced articulation agreement

ALBANY — Albany State University and Albany Technical College held a wide-ranging articulation agreement signing ceremony on Tuesday on the ASU West Campus.

The agreement establishes a pathway for students in several programs, such as accounting, marketing, business management and technology, logistics management and several others, who complete an associate of applied science degree at Albany Tech to be able to continue on to earn a bachelor of applied science degree at Albany State.

Although the two institutions have had agreements in the past in these programs, the new agreement favors more general core classes that transfer as a result of an agreement made between the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia.

“Albany State University is proud to partner with Albany Technical College to provide more opportunities for students to further their education,” ASU President Art Dunning said at the signing ceremony. “Expanding access to higher education is one of our guiding principles. Collaborations like this allow us to offer the flexibility and versatility needed for student success.

“Nothing can be done alone, and Albany State and Albany Tech have one of the strongest relationships since I have been in Albany.”

Under the new agreement, ATC students can transfer courses to more major programs. The new agreement continues to allow transfers established with previous agreements as well.

The agreement is another example of Albany Tech and the Technical College System of Georgia’s partnership with the University System of Georgia. The objective, officials say, is to create a seamless transition for technical college students in Georgia to complete an associate’s degree with the technical college and move on to earn a bachelor’s degree with a university within the University System.

“This partnership signifies the strength of our institutions both in the Technical College System and the University System,” Albany Tech President Anthony Parker said. “We look forward to enhancing these programs in our list of pathway partnerships already in place with Albany State University. As Dr, Dunning said, we are different sides of the same coin.

“Our challenge is arming our students with skills to compete in a global environment.”