Cumberlands partners with KCTCS to empower Kentucky students

University of the Cumberlands (UC) and KCTCS (Kentucky Community and Technical College System) are separate entities with a common vision: making higher education more accessible for students. With that in mind, the schools have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that offers a clear pathway for KCTCS graduates to complete an affordable bachelor’s degree at UC.

The MOA communicates that UC continues to strive to improve the application, advising, and transfer credit evaluation process for seamless transfer of students from KCTCS. It also serves as a steppingstone for KCTCS and UC in their mission to offer quality education to Kentucky students from all backgrounds. Both institutions have made strides to ensure affordability, accessibility, and relevancy for their programs in recent years.

Dr. Trey Jarboe, provost at Cumberlands, said transfer students from KCTCS account for 35 percent of all transfer credits among students currently enrolled at the university. The university has more than 6,000 students enrolled between its on-campus and online undergraduate programs. 

Dr. Jarboe commented, “We are pleased to partner with KCTCS in our shared mission of providing quality education to Kentucky students. This MOA is an example of our commitment to put students first in every aspect of their college experience. We want to offer as smooth a transition as possible for all KCTCS students who choose to pursue their bachelor’s degrees at UC.”

Since its founding, KCTCS has worked to improve the quality of life and employability of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky through certificates, diplomas and associate degrees. Among other provisions, Cumberlands will provide access to admissions and advising resources to KCTCS students as well as a guarantee that UC will maximize the acceptance and application of KCTCS graduates’ transfer credits.

“This new MOA marks the beginning of a strategic partnership that will benefit innumerable Kentucky students for years to come. Through the education and skills provided by both institutions, our students have another accessible pathway to bachelor’s degrees that prepare them for employment and career success,” said Dr. Reneau Waggoner, KCTCS acting provost and vice president of academic and student success. 

About KCTCS: The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth’s largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. They also are Kentucky’s largest provider of workforce training, dual credit classes and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, KCTCS aligns programs to meeting the needs of local employers. Their colleges are united in their commitment to making life better for students, communities and the citizens of Kentucky. Find out more at www.kctcs.edu. 

About University of the Cumberlands: UC offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in addition to several certificate programs. In 2023, the university was ranked the most transfer-friendly private college in Kentucky, welcoming almost as many transfer students as sixteen other private Kentucky colleges combined. UC is also one of the fastest-growing private doctoral universities in the nation. To learn more, visit www.ucumberlands.edu.