Kentucky Community and Technical College System and Ohio University offer new path for additional higher education

Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and Ohio University have partnered to provide a seamless transfer process that allows students to pursue additional higher education. As partners, KCTCS and OHIO will work together on additional opportunities to collaborate — for both on-campus and online programs.

The collaboration grew out of similarities between Kentucky and Ohio. The states share a common goal of improving the economic future of their residents by providing local, flexible and cost-effective education options. The partnership addresses the aspirations and needs of learners in a workforce that has changed profoundly in the last decade.

Students from all 16 KCTCS colleges will gain access to a path starting with an associate degree and leading to the completion of a bachelor’s degree at Ohio University. Pathways to both OHIO Online and on-campus degrees offer KCTCS transfer students flexibility.

Initial pathways include:

• KCTCS Nursing AAS to OHIO Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
• KCTCS AA to OHIO BS in Psychology
• KCTCS AA to OHIO Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies
• KCTCS AA to OHIO Sociology-Criminology 
• KCTCS AA to OHIO Sociology-Prelaw
• KCTCS Business Administration AAS to OHIO Bachelor of Science in Business
• KCTCS Criminal Justice AAS to OHIO Bachelor of Criminal Justice
• KCTCS AAS Human Services to OHIO Social Work

“Ohio University is committed to serving students in our region, and I am thrilled that this new partnership will provide increased access to higher education for our neighbors in Kentucky,” said Ohio University President Dr. Lori Stewart Gonzalez. “All KCTCS students can benefit from our programs no matter which campus they transfer from. We look forward to working with these students and helping them to achieve their goals.” 

Going forward, KCTCS and Ohio University will discuss new opportunities for collaboration and further expanding learning options for local students. These discussions will include a wide range of stakeholders from both inside and outside the educational institutions working to identify additional ways to support the development of a more highly educated workforce capable of meeting the needs of the region.

“We are extremely pleased to offer our place-bound students access to online pathways to bachelor’s degrees,” said Dr. Reneau Waggoner, acting provost and vice president of academic and student success. “This partnership will provide them with more options to continue their education through a seamless, accessible and online pathway to their career goals.”

About Kentucky Community and Technical College System
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is celebrating its 25th anniversary as the commonwealth’s largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. With an annual enrollment of 101,000 students, KCTCS is the state’s largest provider of workforce training, dual credit classes and online education, serving 44% of the state’s public higher education undergraduates. Through partnerships with business and industry, we align our programs to meet the needs of local employers. Our colleges are united in their commitment to making life better for our students, communities and the citizens of Kentucky, which has resulted in KCTCS earning the #1 spot in the nation in credentials awarded per capita by public, two-year institutions. To date, KCTCS has bettered the lives of 1.2 million Kentuckians.