(MARSHALL) – Students majoring in select programs at Texas State Technical College in Marshall now have a way to transfer semester credit hours to earn a four-year degree at The University of Texas at Tyler Longview University Center.

Administrators representing TSTC in Marshall and UT Tyler signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday morning during a ceremony at TSTC’s South Building.

“We welcome the opportunity to partner with the team at UT Tyler in our continuing effort to place more Texans in great-paying careers across the state,” said TSTC in Marshall Provost Barton Day. “Clearly, answering the growing need for a technically trained workforce is, and should be, a primary goal of our institutions of higher education. We’re proud to be part of those efforts.”

The transfer agreement lets TSTC students who earn the Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Controls Technology, Industrial Maintenance Technology, Computer Aided Drafting and Design, and Computer Aided Manufacturing move forward to pursue the Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology at the Longview University Center.

“We welcome this opportunity to collaborate with Texas State Technical College in Marshall that will benefit students and employers across the region,” said UT Tyler President Rodney H. Mabry.

“Our industrial technology program offered at both our Tyler and Longview campuses is one of only two such programs accredited by the Association of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering in the state of Texas. Employers understand the value of an ATMA- accredited program, and as a result our graduates typically receive several job offers following graduation.”

TSTC in Marshall students transferring into the industrial technology program can also earn a minor in business administration.

“Classes in accounting, management, marketing and supply-chain management provide them with the knowledge needed to operate effectively in a business environment,” said Mark Miller, a UT Tyler professor in the College of Business and Technology.

Industrial machining mechanics and machining maintenance workers are expected to grow in demand nationally to more than 530,000 workers by 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.

For more information on the Longview University Center, go to uttyler.edu/luc.