UTC, Chattanooga State highlight honors articulation agreement at Power C Tour event

From left: ChattState Honors Program Director Angie Wood; ChattState students Dakota Velasquez and Miriam Hernandez; ChattState President Rebecca Ashford; UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce; UTC Honors College Dean Linda Frost; UTC student Asha Lee; and UTC Innovations in Honors Director Jordan King. Photo by Angela Foster.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Chattanooga State Community College highlighted a renewed articulation agreement between their honors programs during the Wednesday, March 25, Power C Tour event at Chattanooga State’s Omniplex Building.

The agreement strengthens a transfer pathway for students in Chattanooga State’s Honors Program to continue their academic careers in UTC’s Innovations in Honors program.

Originally established in 2016, the updated agreement aligns the curriculum between the two institutions and ensures that honors coursework completed at ChattState can count toward both general education and Innovations in Honors requirements at UTC. Students who complete ChattState’s honors program in good standing are also guaranteed admission into UTC’s Innovations in Honors program.

The signing brought together UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce, ChattState President Rebecca Ashford, program leaders and faculty to formally recognize the partnership and its role in supporting transfer student success.

UTC’s Innovations in Honors program, housed in the Honors College, is designed specifically for transfer students, providing a structured pathway into honors coursework while connecting students to academic, community and experiential learning opportunities.

“Our program is designed for transfer students and to help them have a clear pathway to UTC, so this partnership with Chattanooga State is foundational to what we do,” said Dr. Jordan King, director of Innovations in Honors at UTC. “Partnerships like this make that pathway even smoother and more accessible.”

The agreement reflects a broader effort by both institutions to strengthen transfer pipelines and support students as they move from two-year to four-year programs.

King and Dr. Angie Wood, ChattState’s Honors Program director, worked together to revise and renew the agreement to better align the two programs.

“The students at Chattanooga State and other community colleges value opportunities through honors,” King said. “We want to make it clear that when they transfer, there’s something familiar that helps set them up for success from day one at UTC.”

“Today marks a defining moment for ChattState Honors scholars—celebrating not only their achievements, but the pathway ahead through transfer to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Innovations in Honors program,” Wood said. “It represents a bridge between potential and purpose, equipping students with the opportunities, support and confidence to succeed here and to thrive as they continue their academic journey and beyond.”

Beyond course alignment, the agreement has supported increased partnership between the two institutions, including joint recruiting efforts and campus visits designed to connect students before they transfer.

“The articulation agreement is the formal part of this, but it has led to other collaborations: recruiting events, shared visits between campuses and opportunities for students to connect before they even transfer,” King said.

UTC honors faculty and students visited ChattState during the fall semester, while ChattState students traveled to UTC this spring. The visits have contributed to more students applying to the Innovations in Honors program and choosing to enroll at UTC.

Additional benefits tied to the partnership include scholarship opportunities, access to housing and participation in Innovation Lab courses that connect students with community-based projects in Chattanooga.

“There are students in this community who are looking for their next step,” he said. “We want to make sure they see UTC as a place where they can continue what they’ve started and be successful.”

ChattState President Rebecca Ashford and UTC Chancellor Lori Bruce after the ceremonial signing of the articulation agreement.

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For UTC student Joshua Clay, returning to ChattState for the Power C Tour felt different this time.

Two years ago, he attended the event as a prospective transfer student and received a scholarship.

Last year, he served in a support role as Scrappy the mascot at the ChattState stop.

He is now preparing to graduate from UTC in the coming weeks.

“I think to be able to serve both communities and both institutions is a huge blessing,” said Clay, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Integrated Studies with a concentration in accounting. “I have so much fun being able to work this event.

“Everyone’s in one place—my connections, my friends—and you just can’t really describe an experience like that.”

UTC’s Power C Tour trek down Amnicola Highway to ChattState connected prospective students with faculty, advisors, financial aid representatives and current students from across the University, with more than 20 groups tabling at the event.

The ChattState stop carries added importance, with a strong focus on transfer students and the pathway between the two institutions.

Chancellor Lori Bruce made that message clear.

“We want you at UTC. We appreciate you. We want you to transfer to UTC,” Bruce told attendees in her welcome remarks.

She also highlighted what students can expect at UTC, pointing to a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio, more than 150 undergraduate academic programs and a campus environment she described as “big enough to matter and small enough to care.”

Affordability remains a key part of that message. Bruce noted that many students combine scholarships, including the HOPE Scholarship, with university aid—and that more than half of UTC students graduate with zero debt.

For students like Clay, that pathway started at ChattState.

“It saved me a whole lot of money and a whole lot of student debt,” he explained. “I was able to complete all my gen eds here and then, when I got to UTC, really focus on my major classes.”

He also talked about the value of building connections early.

“You’re not only here to get a degree. You’re also here to capitalize on the human capital around you,” he said. “If you’re able to network and market yourself well, you’re able to do more than you would if you only focus on academics.”

Asha Lee understands that transition firsthand.

A Chattanooga native and Central High School graduate, Lee earned her associate degree from ChattState before transferring to UTC—where she is now part of the Honors College’s Innovations in Honors program and serves as a Chancellor’s Ambassador.

“Today is kind of a full-circle moment for me,” said Lee, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in applied leadership. “ChattState has been great to me. UTC has been even more great. I’ve been so involved, and I’ve just learned so much.”

Lee said her transition to UTC was smooth, helped by strong connections with faculty and staff across both campuses.

She also highlighted the importance of alignment between the two institutions—something reinforced by the articulation agreement between the schools.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Lee said. “It’s great to know that what you’re taking at ChattState will transfer to UTC. There won’t be barriers that hinder you from moving forward with honors.”

Lee was one of the participants in a group articulation agreement photo, which also included a pair of ChattState students who plan to transfer to UTC, Dakota Velasquez and Miriam Hernandez.

For Clay, the experience reflects how far he has come and what is possible for others considering the same path.

“I was able to build my network here and then maximize that when I got to UTC,” he said. “It’s not just about one school. It’s about taking advantage of every opportunity along the way.”