UK, KCTCS partner to enhance opportunities for Kentucky community college students

Campus leaders from the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) announced a new partnership today to provide a seamless transfer experience for Kentucky community college students seeking to earn a bachelor's degree at UK.

The new transfer agreement will ensure that students in KCTCS’ two-year degree programs will have clear and efficient pathways to UK’s four-year degree programs, maximizing credit transfer and reducing the time and cost to degree completion.

The agreement was formalized during a signing ceremony today on UK’s campus, attended by officials from both institutions. The agreement reflects UK's commitment to advance Kentucky by making higher education more accessible and affordable, ultimately helping to create a more educated and successful workforce within the commonwealth.

“Today’s pathway agreement between UK and KCTCS is a critical step toward building a more qualified workforce that can meet our commonwealth’s needs,” UK President Eli Capilouto said. “This important partnership broadens access to higher education for all Kentuckians, especially those who might not have considered pursuing a bachelor’s degree. By working together, we can achieve more for our state and fulfill our promise to graduate more students and strengthen our communities.”

KCTCS comprises 16 colleges with more than 70 campuses strategically located across the commonwealth where students can earn certificates, diplomas and associate degrees. The new global transfer agreement will ensure students from all KCTCS schools will have access, resources and support services in place to transfer to a four-year program at UK.

“Broadening access to four-year degrees will prepare more of our students for employment and career success,” said KCTCS President Ryan Quarles. “Creating seamless transfer pathways with partners like the University of Kentucky ensure that KCTCS is doing its part to improve the employability and quality of life of the citizens of the commonwealth and to bolster the state’s workforce.”

Greg Feeney, president of Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC), says transfer partnerships like these are integral to their student support efforts.

“BCTC values its longstanding alliance with UK, bolstering the commonwealth,” Feeney said. “Extending this collaboration to encompass all of KCTCS will amplify our collective impact.”

Some of the highlights of the partnership include:

• Refining and establishing new transfer pathways at UK to maximize accepted credit hours, detailing admission requirements, course equivalencies and other critical information for specific academic programs.
• Increasing affordability by waiving the UK application fee for KCTCS students through the Transfer Tuesday program.
• Providing access to UK transfer advisors and inviting KCTCS students to special UK events to support their transfer process.

The strategic collaboration underscores the commitment of both UK and KCTCS to improving educational outcomes and supporting the academic and career success of students across Kentucky.

This initiative recognizes the potential of Kentucky’s community college students and provides them with the tools and resources necessary to achieve their academic and professional goals.

Alexandra Martin, a student at Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC), will transfer to UK this fall, and has taken advantage of these resources and services while at MCTC.

“Maysville Community and Technical College played a crucial role in my successful transfer to UK,” she said. “MCTC provided challenging courses that built a strong educational foundation for my bachelor’s degree in business at UK. From day one, dedicated advisors helped create a personalized transfer plan, allowing for a smooth transfer process. They offered both technical support and motivation when I most needed it.”

By supporting transfer students like Martin in their educational journeys, UK and KCTCS are investing in the future leaders and innovators of Kentucky, driving forward the state's advancement.

For more information about the transfer pathways and benefits available to students, please visit UK Transfer Admissions or KCTCS Transfer Information. Students can also email UKTransfer@uky.edu for more information about transferring to UK. The deadline for transfer students to apply for UK’s Fall 2024 semester is July 1.

For more information about transferring to UK and benefits available to students, visit the KCTCS/UK webpage.

Watch a livestream of the announcement here.