Agreement offers students cost savings, seamless degree completion; optimizes Tennessee Promise/Reconnect programs
Belmont University and Nashville State Community College announced today a new partnership that allows Nashville State associate degree students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree from Belmont’s Jack C. Massey College of Business. Belmont reached a similar agreement with Columbia State Community College this summer.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “At Belmont, we seek to be Nashville’s University, meaning we want to align our vision and resources with the ever-changing needs of the people in our community. This new partnership with Nashville State Community College can clear the obstacles that all too often get in the way of local students who are seeking a four-year degree. This initiative outlines the steps needed to ensure credits earned properly transfer while also maximizing each student’s financial investment in their education. At Belmont, we have always valued transfer students from Nashville State, and we are eager to welcome even more to our campus through this innovative new program.”
According to a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, 80 percent of students attending community colleges nationwide intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree, but only 14 percent have one six years later. This new agreement—which provides deeper connections between the two programs and streamlines services and admissions for students—aims to improve those numbers in Tennessee.
Eligible students must earn a Nashville State Associate Degree in Business Administration by completing the transfer coursework developed and approved by both institutions. Through this agreement, Nashville State students who meet stated requirements can be granted early admittance into Belmont’s Massey College of Business.
Nashville State President Dr. Shanna Jackson said, “As Nashville’s Community College, we are excited to partner with Belmont University. Our agreement creates a clear pathway for students to bridge to Belmont and complete their Bachelor’s of Business Administration through the Jack. C. Massey College of Business. This partnership optimizes the impact of Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect programs by providing the financial support for our Nashville State graduates to successfully complete a four year degree. Nashville State is committed to improving pathways and options for students who wish to transfer to great institutions like Belmont University.”
The degree completion program is open to any Nashville State business student. Students applying for need-based aid or VA benefits as well as adult students seeking reduced tuition options are all eligible for this program. In addition, a transfer scholarship has been created to support students pursuing 2-to-4 year Nashville State/Belmont option. The scholarship, open to graduates of Nashville State’s associates in business degree, has a value of $3,000 per semester for four semesters of continuous study at Belmont.
Karen Stevenson, Nashville State dean of business, management and hospitality, added, “ Nashville State is so excited to partner with Belmont University’s Jack C. Massey College of Business on this new articulation agreement. This agreement provides a step-by-step process for students to seamlessly continue their education. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Belmont University and look forward to other collaborations.”
Ranked among the Best Undergraduate Business Schools by Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Belmont’s Jack C. Massey College of Business offers the highest quality of business education in a Christian environment. Belmont is the only private university in Tennessee to have met the quality standards to achieve business and specialized accounting accreditation by AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This dual accreditation places Belmont among the less than one percent of the world’s business schools to achieve both business and accounting accreditation.
