The presidents of MTSU and Jackson State Community College signed agreements Thursday (Oct. 25) that will ease the transition for students seeking to transfer from the West Tennessee college to the university in Murfreesboro.

The measures authorized by MTSU’s Dr. Sidney A. McPhee and Jackson State’s Dr. Bruce Blanding create dual admissions, concurrent enrollment and reverse transfer options between the institutions.

The signing took place in Jackson, the last stop of MTSU’s 2012 True Blue Tour, a six-city admissions caravan of deans, administrators and counselors. MTSU inked a similar agreement with Roane State Community College during the tour’s stop in Knoxville on Sept. 26.

 “This agreement forges even closer ties between MTSU and Jackson State,” McPhee said. “We have made such pacts a priority  at MTSU, as we are the No. 1 destination of transfer students in Tennessee. This agreement helps ensure a smooth transition for students between our institutions.”

“All of us at JSCC are excited to partner with Middle Tennessee State University on this dual-admission agreement,” Blanding said. “By formalizing and clarifying this process, we are clearing the path for students wishing to continue their higher education as a Blue Raider.”

The dual-admission program allows eligible Jackson State students to get MTSU advising, registration priority and admission while still attending the community college.

The concurrent enrollment aspect of the new agreement allows students to enroll for classes at both institutions simultaneously and get financial aid for the total number of credits if needed. That change will help students who have selected majors that require lower-division courses not available at the community-college level, such as nutrition, interior design and Concrete Industry Management.

The reverse transfer portion of the plan gives former Jackson State students, who enrolled at MTSU before receiving a two-year associate’s degree from the college, the opportunity to transfer MTSU credits back to Jackson State and receive a diploma.

Students must meet certain criteria to be eligible for the new partnership with Jackson State, including meeting MTSU admissions standards.

MTSU, the state’s largest undergraduate university and the largest and oldest institution in the Tennessee Board of Regents system, also has established dual-admission programs with Roane State, Nashville State, Chattanooga State, Dyersburg State and Motlow State community colleges.

Jackson State, also a TBR institution, provides accessible learning opportunities and services to a 14-county area. In addition to its main campus in Jackson, the school has full-service centers located in Humboldt, Lexington and Savannah.