MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin Springfield Regional Center was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
This officially gives UT Martin six regional centers, with Springfield joining regional centers in Jackson, McNairy County/Selmer, Parsons, Ripley and Somerville.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission voted for approval of the UT Martin Springfield Regional Center last year on May 22. This center is housed on the Volunteer State Community College-Springfield campus.
The addition of this regional center comes after a successful partnership between Vol State-Springfield and UT Martin. In November 2023, the campuses entered an agreement that allowed students to pursue post-secondary education in agriculture, education, health care and technology sectors onsite.
“We are providing agriculture business, farm and ranch management and the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree at the Springfield Center,” said Erica Bell, executive director of the Office of Regional Centers and Online Programs at UT Martin.
“We also have a dual-enrollment partnership that began with Robertson County Schools last fall. That allows students who are interested in ag business or farm and ranch management to start their general education curriculum at Vol State and their concentration degree-specific courses with UT Martin.”
Bell added that students enrolled in dual-enrollment courses through Vol State could complete the remaining year of those general education courses the year after they graduate high school and then move on to degree-specific courses through UT Martin.
“Basically, it cuts off an entire year,” she said. “In three years, they can walk away with a Bachelor of Science degree from UT Martin without ever leaving Robertson County.”
UT Martin is also working in partnership with the University of Tennessee Highland Rim Ag Research and Education Center in Springfield.
Photo– Shown prior to a meeting on the UT Martin main campus March 14 are (l-r) UTM Chancellor Yancy Freeman; Erica Bell, executive director of the Office of Regional Centers and Online Programs at UT Martin; and Dr. Wendi Tostenson, president of Vol State Community College.