A-B Tech Signs Articulation Agreement With UNC Asheville For Digital Media Graduates
Digital Media graduates from A-B Tech can receive up to 48 hours of transfer credit for general education or computer or multimedia classes at UNC Asheville through an articulation agreement with the university's Multimedia Arts and Sciences (MMAS) program.
"I would like to say the entire Business Computer Technologies department was very involved with this. And we are very excited about the opportunity for our students," said Pam Silvers, Chair of Business Computer Technologies.
Usually, college transfer students only get the general education requirements and not credit for the major. "This is what is unique about the agreement," Silvers said.
"If our students go to UNCA, they traditionally are able to transfer with possibly nine to 12 credit hours," Silvers said. "With this agreement, students will transfer with almost two years completed. The Digital Media degree is both highly marketable, and graduates can go get a job, or those who want to continue their education can locally go to UNC Asheville without losing a lot of credit hours."
In Spring 2004, A-B Tech submitted a grant proposal with UNC Asheville for funds from the University of North Carolina System Office. The Multimedia/Digital Media project is one of 10 projects under the two-year grant, which was spearheaded and continues to be managed by the National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC).
Silvers co-chaired the project with Susan Reiser, MMAS assistant director and lecturer at UNC Asheville. Katherine Whatley, the university's vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, was also instrumental.
"Both Susan and Kathy were supportive of the articulation agreement. They both made it possible," Silvers said. "We have gotten other good things from the grant, but this is the most exciting because it is a direct benefit for our students."
Part of the request for proposals required UNC Asheville to form a partnership with a community college or a private college. "The project's goal is to foster relationships between the institutions, specifically between the DME and MMAS programs. Establishing the personal and professional connections with Pam and the DME faculty has been extremely rewarding," said Reiser. "Both departments enthusiastically support the articulation agreement, which defines an academic path for A-B Tech students to receive credit for their coursework and continue their education at UNC Asheville."
"We started Digital Media in fall 2004 and got the grant funding in June 2004," Silvers said. "It seemed a natural progression to see if they could mesh."
"We got together in spring 2005 to have everyone meet each other in both departments," she said. "I sat in classes at UNC Asheville so I could see what they were teaching, then we came up with list of classes appropriate to articulate. In the fall, we had a joint proposal."
"I was thrilled when the articulation agreement between UNC Asheville's Multimedia Arts and Sciences program and A-B Tech's Digital Media Technologies program went into effect earlier this month," said Reiser. "It is one of the project's most tangible contributions to our respective programs."
Jump Start At Enka Campus
The spring edition of Jump Start Your Small Business was held April 6 at the Enka campus. "We had over 250 vendors and visitors participate," said Jill Sparks, assistant director of the Small Business Center and Incubator. "We have received many positives comments, e-mails, and cards from people wanting to sign up for the fall Jump Start Sept. 20."
Artisan Bread Festival Held At A-B Tech
Jeffrey Alexander, a guest chef from Johnson and Wales University in Charlotte, demonstrates how to make croissants during the Artisan Bread Festival April 1 in the Magnolia Building. The A-B Tech Culinary and Baking Club and A-B Tech Culinary alumni hosted part of the festival. Featured were hands-on workshops, a panel discussion, presentations and displays by local bakers.