PCC, Martin Community College Administrators Renew 1+1 Articulations Originally Signed in 2021

WINTERVILLE—Pitt Community College and nearby Martin Community College have renewed a partnership that’s been helping students prepare for work in several high-demand career fields the past two years.

On Tuesday, PCC President Lawrence Rouse joined MCC President Wesley Beddard in signing 1+1 articulations that guide the transfer of MCC students into four PCC curricula: Associate in Engineering, Biotechnology, Dental Assisting and Mechanical Engineering Technology. The agreements create seamless pathways for MCC students to complete general education and prerequisite courses at Martin before transferring to Pitt to finish their respective programs of study.

“PCC and MCC have been working together for quite a while to develop a skilled workforce that supports eastern North Carolina business and industry,” Rouse said. “Both colleges are committed to making sure the people we serve have affordable and convenient access to educational programs that will prepare them for success in the careers they want to pursue.”

Beddard says the agreements, which were initially signed in 2021, created new training options for students in Martin and Bertie counties “while avoiding duplication of (program) offerings and additional costs.” The PCC collaboration, he said, has saved students time and money by allowing them to start their studies closer to home before finishing up at Pitt.

“(MCC) cannot afford – nor should we try to afford – all of these programs,” Beddard said. “PCC and MCC are close enough in proximity for these types of agreements to work well. People will go wherever they need to go for education, so long as it’s feasible.”

Dr. Dan Mayo, PCC interim Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services, said the programs featured in the partnership are not currently offered by Martin and were chosen because they lead to secure, high-paying jobs in technically-sophisticated career fields.

“PCC and MCC are working together to optimize educational opportunities for people wanting to better their life’s circumstances by developing skills that lead to work in high-demand fields of employment,” Mayo said. “It’s a winning collaboration for the communities we serve, helps the region attract new industrial partners, and encourages existing businesses to expand.”

Along with discussing the possibility of new articulations involving additional programs of study, PCC and MCC administrators stressed the need for promoting the current agreements and recruiting students. Beddard added that it is also important for state legislators to be aware of the partnership between the two colleges, so they can see what the schools are doing to help people “go where they want to go” and “study what they want to study.”

Started in 2002, Pitt’s biotechnology curriculum trains students for work in laboratory settings, including pharmaceutical, testing/forensic, and medical research. According to the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, 810 life sciences companies employing 75,000 people currently call North Carolina home.

PCC’s Associate in Engineering program has been offering students the first two years of a four-year engineering degree since 2009. Graduates of the program can transfer to East Carolina University through an articulation between the schools, and there are several additional North Carolina universities that also offer the final two years of a bachelor’s degree in engineering.

Dental Assisting, which Pitt inherited from Martin in August 2021, teaches students how to perform office, chairside and laboratory procedures that assist with the delivery of dental treatment. Graduates may be eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination to become Certified Dental Assistants.

PCC’s Mechanical Engineering program prepares graduates for work as engineering technicians in the field of manufacturing technology. Students learn about drafting, process specification, tooling selection, automation programming, project facilitation, and robotics. The program features degree, diploma and certificate options, and Pitt has articulation agreements with UNC-Charlotte and ECU for students wanting to further their education beyond an associate degree.

For more information on the PCC-MCC 1+1 articulations, students may contact Dr. Tabitha Miller, MCC Vice President of Academic Affairs/Chief Academic Officer, at tabitha.miller@martincc.edu or (252) 789-0247.

06/30/2023