MDCC and The W Create new 3+1+1 degree pathway for career-technical students
Mississippi Delta Community College and Mississippi University for Women signed a memorandum of agreement Monday establishing a new 3+1+1 pathway for career-technical students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
The signing ceremony took place at 10 a.m. in the board room of the Stauffer-Wood Administration Building on MDCC’s Moorhead campus. Following the signing, W representatives met with students and instructors from the Business Office Technology and Computer Networking Technology programs to share information about continuing their education at The W.
The agreement creates a seamless pathway for students earning an Associate of Applied Science degree from MDCC in Business Office Technology, Computer Networking Technology or Culinary Arts Technology to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science at The W. Students can complete their first three years at MDCC and then finish their bachelor’s degree through The W in one additional year — either face to face or online — with the option to continue to a Master of Business Administration in the fifth year.
“Mississippi Delta Community College is proud to partner with Mississippi University for Women on this 3+1+1 program, which creates a clear pathway for our students to continue their education and advance their careers,” said MDCC President Dr. Steven Jones. “Collaborations like this expand opportunities for our students and reflect our shared commitment to increasing access to high-quality education. Most importantly, this partnership allows MDCC students to move seamlessly from the associate degree through advanced study, opening doors for their future and strengthening the communities we serve.”
Under the agreement, The W will accept up to 40 career-technical education credit hours from MDCC toward a bachelor’s degree, with the requirement that 25 percent of total hours for the degree must be completed at The W. Both institutions will work together to advise students and promote these pathways throughout MDCC’s district.
“This memorandum of agreement reflects MDCC’s deep commitment to creating clear and attainable pathways for our students,” said Dr. Valarie Morgan, MDCC vice president of instruction and accreditation/provost. “By strengthening our partnership with Mississippi University for Women, we are expanding opportunities for MDCC students to transition seamlessly into baccalaureate programs while remaining rooted in Mississippi. This collaboration affirms our shared focus on student success, academic excellence, and meeting the educational needs of our state.”
W President Nora Miller welcomed the continued collaboration between the two institutions.
“We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Mississippi Delta Community College and providing pathways for their students to complete their baccalaureate degrees at The W,” Miller said.
Allison Folk, dean of career-technical and adult education, emphasized the impact the agreement will have for students in MDCC’s career-technical programs.
“Mississippi Delta Community College is committed to ensuring that our career-technical students have opportunities to continue their education beyond the associate degree,” Folk said. “This agreement with Mississippi University for Women creates a clear pathway for MDCC graduates to build on their technical training and earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in four years, with the option to continue to a Master of Business Administration in five.”
The agreement includes provisions to protect currently enrolled students, with both institutions agreeing to honor the pathway for two years after any termination date to allow students who entered The W under the agreement to graduate. Additional programs may be added upon written consent of both institutions.