MTSU President Sidney McPhee and Gary Goff, president of Roane State Community College, sign an agreement Sept. 26, 2012, in Knoxville, Tenn., to ease the transfer process for qualifying students. (Photo courtesy of MTSU)

KNOXVILLE— The presidents of Middle Tennessee State University and Roane State Community College signed agreements Wednesday that will ease the transition for students seeking to transfer from the college to the university in Murfreesboro.
 
Presidents Sidney A. McPhee and Gary Goff authorized three agreements that create dual admissions, concurrent enrollment and reverse transfer options between the college and the university.

The signing took place at the Knoxville Museum of Art during the university's “True Blue Tour,” a six-city admissions caravan of deans, administrators and counselors.
 
“We welcome this opportunity to strengthen our already strong ties with Roane State,” McPhee said. “MTSU is the No. 1 destination of transfer students in Tennessee, and this agreement makes it even easier for Roane State students to attend our university.”
 
Roane State is excited to sign these three agreements, Goff said.

"The agreements will provide greater opportunities for our students,” he said. “We are proud to partner with MTSU.”
 
The dual admission program allows eligible Roane 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 Roane State students who enrolled at MTSU before receiving a two-year associate’s degree the opportunity to transfer credits back and receive a diploma.

Students must meet certain criteria to be eligible for the new partnership with Roane State, including meeting MTSU admissions standards.
 
MTSU has already established dual-admission programs with Nashville State, Chattanooga State, Dyersburg State and Motlow State community colleges.

Roane State is a two-year Tennessee Board of Regents college providing transfer curricula, career-preparation programs and continuing education. Founded in 1971, the college has campuses in Crossville, Harriman, Huntsville, Jamestown, Knoxville, LaFollette, Lenoir City, Oak Ridge and Wartburg.