Students who graduate from Southeast Community College with a degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology will be able to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree in the same program at Missouri Western State University, thanks to a document of articulation recently signed by officials from both schools.
Effective immediately, students who earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology at SCC will be able to transfer up to 90 hours to Missouri Western and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from the St. Joseph, Mo., university.
Dr. Dennis Headrick, vice president for instruction at SCC, said institutions working together to benefit students is what higher education should be about.
“We appreciate colleges and universities that are willing to work with SCC to provide students in our vocational programs opportunities to continue their education,” Headrick said. “In many cases the opportunity allows students to explore advanced opportunities beyond what our associate degree will provide them.”
Mark Eilers, chair/instructor of SCC’s Manufacturing Engineering Technology program, said he was pleased the two schools could reach an agreement.
“Missouri Western has been great to work with, and through the work we have done together, I find comfort knowing that our graduates will be well taken care of,” Eilers said.
Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western president, said his school was looking forward to working with SCC.
“We’re pleased to partner with SCC, which has an outstanding Manufacturing Engineering Technology program,” Vartabedian said.
Dr. George Yang, chair of Western’s Department of Engineering Technology, said the agreement was a win-win for both schools.
“Graduates from our program qualify for jobs related to production, process and productivity improvement, and process design,” Yang said. “They also qualify for supervisory and managerial positions in plant engineering. Our graduates have a strong and broad foundation that enables them to perform well in any field in which application of manufacturing principles is required.”
For Nebraska transfer students who have achieved a minimum 3.00 grade-point average, Missouri Western provides the opportunity for in-state tuition through the Neighboring States Scholarship program. Current annual in-state tuition and fees is less than $6,000, and the scholarship is renewable. Missouri Western, with the newest campus of the four-year state universities, has a growing enrollment of more than 6,200 students and offers 107 bachelor’s degree programs.