October 29, 2024


From left: W Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Dr. Scott Tollison; W Chair of the Department of Business, Dr. Dee Larson; W President, Nora Miller; ECCC President, Dr. Brent Gregory; and ECCC Director of Career & Technical Education, Cody Spence.

East Central Community College (ECCC) is pleased to announce an exciting new educational pathway in collaboration with Mississippi University for Women (The W) through a groundbreaking “3+1+1” Memorandum of Understanding. This innovative agreement offers students in select career and technical education programs a seamless pathway to earn an associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree.  
 
Under this “3+1+1” agreement signed by W President Nora Miller and ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory, students will complete three years of study at ECCC, one year at The W to earn a bachelor’s degree, followed by an additional year for a master’s degree. The MOU establishes 17-degree pathway options for students, including business management technology, culinary arts, marketing and information technology.  
 
“We are excited to announce this partnership with ECCC that strengthens our commitment to providing accessible education and opens new pathways for students. Together, we are dedicated to fostering academic growth and ensuring that our graduates are well prepared for the workforce,” said W President Nora Miller. 
 
“This agreement opens doors for our students to gain both practical skills and advanced academic credentials, preparing them for leadership roles in competitive job markets,” said Gregory. “We are thrilled to partner with The W to make this incredible opportunity available.”  
 
The “3+1+1” program is designed to provide students with an affordable and seamless route to advanced degrees. It also addresses regional workforce demands, equipping graduates with specialized training, critical-thinking skills and education credentials that employers seek.  
 
"This partnership represents a step forward in our commitment to student growth and career readiness,” said the ECCC Director of Career & Technical Education Cody Spence. “Through the ‘3+1+1’ program, we look to provide an efficient and cost-effective pathway for our students.”  
 
“The pathways will allow ECCC’s AAS students to remain at their beloved community college for a third year before transferring to us, and our goal is to make that transition as smooth as possible. Together, we have created an affordable pathway where employees of Mississippi can continue to work while completing a degree that will assist them in building successful businesses in Mississippi,” said Dr. Dee Larson, chair of The W’s Department of Business. 
 
Students may transfer up to 90 hours from community colleges to The W, which may include up to 40 technical credit hours, allowing students to build on their practical career technical training. 
 
The W offers ten concentrations leading to the Bachelor of Applied Science degree, eight of which can be completed online. The fully online concentrations allow students to remain in their current jobs while earning a bachelor's degree. After completion, students are encouraged to apply to The W's MBA program, which can be completed online in one year. The W awarded the first Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Fall 2016. 
 
This partnership underscores ECCC and The W’s joint commitment to enhancing educational access and promoting professional advancement within Mississippi. 
 
Learn More about ECCC Pathways to The W by visiting: https://www.muw.edu/pathways/eccc/ 
 
For more information on enrollment and program details, interested students can contact Janet Estes at jestes@eccc.edu or 601-635-6299. 
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