Eleven Colleges in Region Serve Students’ Needs
Published Feb 23, 2009
Northeast State Technical Community College is among the 11 colleges and universities in the Northeast Tennessee Valley. Others are Carson-Newman College, King College, Lincoln Memorial University, Milligan College, Tusculum College and Walters State Community College; and, in Virginia, Emory & Henry College, Virginia Highlands Community College and Virginia Intermont College. There are also two Tennessee Technology Centers in the region.
The Northeast Tennessee Valley’s array of educational options includes 11 colleges and universities. But what’s more impressive than their sheer number is the institutions’ sense of cooperation, as they often work together to meet the students’ ever-changing needs.
East Tennessee State University in Johnson City is the region’s largest academic community. As one of six universities governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents, ETSU boasts 125 degree programs and serves nearly 14,000 students.
“Our programs of study encompass a good mix of offerings,” says Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr., university president since 1997. “And we are the only Board of Regents institution that has, as part of its mission, a focus on health sciences.”
Stanton says the university also is a leader in distance/online education, conducting a wide variety of online courses and a growing number of online degree programs.
“About 46 percent of our students are 25 years or older,” Stanton adds. “The challenges for these students are different than for the typical residential student. Flexibility is key in terms of reaching out to adults and helping them continue their education.”
Consortium Creates New Center
That call for flexibility and convenience echoes throughout the region, says Kingsport Mayor Dennis Phillips, who sees the forthcoming Kingsport Center for Higher Education as a prime solution. Scheduled to open in August 2009, the 54,000-square-foot center will accommodate about 800 students with two 60-seat lecture halls, other classrooms, laboratory space, a media center and a 220-seat auditorium.
The $12.9 million project represents a consortium of Northeast State Technical Community College, King College, Lincoln Memorial University, Carson-Newman College and the University of Tennessee. Tusculum College and Milligan College also have expressed interest in joining.
Nearby Northeast State will operate the center, providing students their first two years of core courses, Phillips says. Students then will have the opportunity to pursue a four-year degree in the same building by taking courses from participating universities.
“We know that having a well-educated workforce is important not only for our quality of life but also in terms of economic development. Our goal is to make education available to everyone,” the mayor says, noting that students living in his city or elsewhere in Sullivan County may receive two years of free tuition at Northeast State.
Dr. Patty Kraft, associate provost at Carson-Newman College, says response to the new education center has been extremely positive. “There’s a real sense of excitement,” she says. “Carson-Newman is all about reaching out to students who may not otherwise be able to pursue a degree, so this is a new way of doing that. All of the schools have been working very well together. I think we recognize how important this is for both students and the communities in which we live.”
Entities Form Academic Village
Kingsport City Manager John Campbell agrees, adding that the city already is reaping the benefits of the aptly named Kingsport Academic Village, which incorporates the Kingsport Center for Higher Education; the Regional Center for Health Professions, which opened in August 2008; the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing, which broke ground in August 2008; and the Regional Center for Applied Technology, which opened in 2002.
“We’re seeing a real renaissance in the downtown, with several new restaurants and an incredible amount of interest in loft development,” Campbell says. “It’s an exciting time for students, businesses and the entire community.”
Story by Amy Stumpfl
Photo by Ian Curcio
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