[289] MTSU’s ‘Paint the Community Colleges True Blue’ tour nears

University team committed to ‘providing smooth transition’

MURFREESBORO — MTSU soon will add a personal touch as it courts community college students at campuses across the Tennessee.

The university’s second “Paint the Community Colleges True Blue” tour runs from Jan. 26 through Feb. 11, as teams of admissions counselors and representatives assist students who want to declare dual admissions and plan to transfer to the four-year institution in Murfreesboro.

Dates and college campuses include:

• Jan. 26 — Motlow State Community College’s Lynchburg campus.

• Jan. 27 — Motlow State’s Smyrna campus.

• Jan. 28 — Chattanooga State Community College.

• Feb. 2 — Jackson State Community College.

• Feb. 4 — Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin.

• Feb. 10 — Nashville State Community College.

• Feb. 11 — Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville.

No registration is required. Free food and giveaways are planned.

Workshops will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time. They will be free and, while geared to community college students, will be open to the public.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to meet with future MTSU students wanting to transfer to earn their undergraduate and perhaps even graduate degrees,” said Laurie Witherow, associate vice provost for undergraduate recruitment. “Our transfer admissions staff and other team members are committed to providing a smooth transition from their community college to our university.”

In addition to declaring dual admissions and meeting with MTSU personnel, the community college students can obtain an MTSU ID card, learn more about Tennessee Transfer Pathways to help them successfully transfer and register for the Finish Line Scholarship to offset any tuition increases while they are enrolled at MTSU.

Agreements signed between MTSU and Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges in recent years allow two-year students to enroll as MTSU students while still pursuing an associate degree. If the students transfer before getting an associate degree, the pacts allow the “reverse transfer” of MTSU credits back to the colleges to earn a two-year credential.

MTSU, which has more than 140 academic programs for students to choose from, offers guaranteed scholarships to transfers who meet academic requirements and are from the TBR system’s 14 community colleges.

For more information, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/schedule-a-visit/special-events.php or call 615-898-2233.