Methodist University and Fayetteville Technical Community College announced last week a new partnership that will make it easier for students to transfer to Methodist with a two-year degree from FTCC.

On Thursday,  the presidents of both colleges signed a Memorandum of Understanding to make the partnership official. 

The ceremony was held at Methodist’s Matthews Ministry Center, facilitated by MU Provost Suzanne Blum Malley and featuring administrators from both institution including both schools’ presidents. The president of Methodist University is Stanley T. Wearden, Ph.D. and the president of FTCC is Dr. J. Larry Keen. 

“We all understand the transformational power of education to change lives, to put people on a trajectory they may have never thought was possible,” Wearden said. “Some of Methodist’s very best students come from community colleges which are integral to the future of higher education, both to North Carolina and to the nation at large. I’m excited about what we’re doing with this agreement and the future for our institutions and the students.” 

“What we are doing is extraordinarily important to our institutions, but more importantly for our students,” Keen said. “None of us can do it alone, it’s when we come together collaboratively that we’re able to truly impact the lives of the students.” 

Students from almost 30 programs at Fayetteville Tech can take up to eight hours or eight credits in Methodist campus courses at the same rate as the community college while completing their associate degrees.  

Methodist has created Memorandums of Understanding with several community colleges in the region within the past year in addition to FTCC, including Bladen, Central Carolina, Robeson, Sandhills, and Sampson.  

“These partnerships will help put a bachelor’s degree within reach for many of our community college graduates,” said Dr. Beth Carter, MU’s Vice Provost for Online and Extended Learning. “Students are guaranteed admission at MU upon completion of their Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, and Associate of General Education degrees. As long as a student earns a minimum 2.0 grade-point average from one of the six community colleges, they will be guaranteed admission into Methodist University."