A new pathway through high school, community college, and university is about to open for students of the construction trades. Fayetteville State University and Fayetteville Technical Community College have partnered to create a Construction Project Management degree program, which, pending accreditation by the SACSCOC, will be open for fall 2025 enrollment.
Previously, there wasn’t a seamless way to transition from FTCC’s technical associate degree offerings in construction trades to a four-year degree. Susan Evans, Associate Vice President for Instructional Programs at FTCC, shared her excitement about the development.
“It's a new thought process in higher education to take technical associate degrees and create pathways from the community college to a bachelor's degree,” she explained. “These two worlds are now one world. That’s a long time coming in higher education.”
The changes serve both new and returning students. For adults already working in construction trades with an associate's degree, the program is accessible because they won’t have to move or change jobs to pursue continuing education through FSU.
For others as young as high school students, FTCC’s High School Connections Program allows students to take college classes for free and obtain certificates that will prepare them for this upcoming pathway. One such example is FTCC’s one-semester “Introduction to Building Construction Technology Certificate,” the credits from which are fully transferable.
“You're developing a pathway for a student who, for whatever reason, doesn't think they want, or doesn’t even know if they want to go to college,” Evans said.
She explained that the High School Connections Program gives high school students an opportunity to experience community college and builds their confidence. From there, they can decide whether to pursue an associate's degree and seamlessly continue to a bachelor's degree at FSU without losing any time or credits.
Partnerships with regional companies will provide students with work opportunities while still in college. Metcon Buildings and Infrastructure, a general contracting service, will offer internships for students, an opportunity which Evans says will “make them employable early through the internship, and help them complete that bachelor's degree.”
She said that the partnership will have a significant workforce impact, making it possible for local employers to identify and train potential employees early.
“I hope it serves as a model for all of the industries in our region that are looking for employees,” Evans highlighted, adding that they expect additional partnerships will form with other regional employers as the program develops. “I hope they will connect with the community college.”
While FTCC’s Construction Technology associate’s degree prepares graduates for entry-level construction-trade positions in architecture, engineering, industry, and government, Evans shared that many certifications and licensures require a bachelor’s degree, making the program a perfect fit for those who want to pursue more competitive job opportunities.
“We have people who probably completed our two-year degree in the past five or 10 years, who will find out about this cooperative relationship and go back to finish their bachelor's degree.”
Though the program is not enrolling new students yet, Evans said inquiries can be directed to Pam Gibson, Dean of Engineering and Applied Technologies at FTCC: gibsonp@faytech.edu
“We really appreciate the partnership with FSU,” Evans shared. “Making things easier on students is exactly what we want to do.”