The University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin) has expanded its educational reach with the approval of its sixth regional center. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACSCOC, greenlit the UT Martin Springfield Regional Center in February, according to a report from the university. This new development is poised to serve students in Robertson County through a collaboration that takes education outside the traditional campus boundaries.
With its establishment, the Springfield center lines up alongside UT Martin's existing regional centers in Jackson, McNairy County/Selmer, Parsons, Ripley, and Somerville. Erica Bell, executive director of the Office of Regional Centers and Online Programs at UT Martin, highlighted the variety of academic tracks the Springfield Center will offer. "We are providing agriculture business, farm and ranch management and the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree at the Springfield Center," Bell said in a statement published by UT Martin's news section.
The partnership that made this center possible began in November 2023 when UT Martin struck an agreement with Volunteer State Community College-Springfield (Vol State-Springfield). This collaboration was designed to empower students with the chance to pursue education in fields deemed essential - agriculture, education, health care, and technology - right on Vol State's Springfield campus. Additionally, a dual-enrollment partnership was put into place with Robertson County Schools enabling students to begin their college journey while still in high school.
"Basically, it cuts off an entire year," Bell told UT Martin's news outlet, explaining the streamlined process. Students can complete their general education curriculum at Vol State and then transition to degree-specific courses through UT Martin. This enables them to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from UT Martin without ever having to leave Robertson County, potentially within three years.
Dr. Wendi Tostenson, president of Vol State, emphasized the significance of this addition for local communities. She particularly praised the seamless educational pathways provided to students, "It’s all at Vol State, so I think the addition of the UT Martin courses and having the availability of a four-year degree at the Springfield Center is a game-changer for Vol State and the community," Tosenson remarked to UT Martin's news team. These sentiments underscore the strategy to bridge the academic gap between an associate's degree and a four-year bachelor’s degree within the same regional ecosystem. Furthermore, Tostenson pointed out that the Springfield Center's expansion fortified its role as a pivotal higher education hub in Robertson County, destined to strengthen the local workforce pipeline by cultivating a more skilled workforce.
For individuals seeking additional information regarding the UT Martin Springfield Center and its offerings, the university's Office of Regional Centers and Online Programs can be reached at 731-881-7089.
