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Transfer Pathway Established for Integrated Machining Technology Students

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Transfer Pathway Established for Integrated Machining Technology Students

Transfer Pathway Established for Integrated Machining Technology Students

Danville Community College (DCC) and Old Dominion University (ODU) inked an agreement at a signing event on April 18, 2025, that establishes a seamless transfer pathway for students enrolled in DCC’s Integrated Machining Technology (IMT) Program to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology with a concentration in Manufacturing Engineering Technology at ODU. IMT is a nationally acclaimed advanced third-year training program instructed by DCC and housed and financed by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR).

Under this agreement, students who complete the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Integrated Machining Technology via the DCC-IALR partnership will be eligible to transfer approximately 70 course credits to ODU. Students will then complete an additional 71-74 credits at ODU to earn their bachelor’s degree, creating a streamlined, cost-effective educational pathway for those seeking advanced credentials in the manufacturing field.

“This agreement represents an incredible opportunity for our students to build on the high-level technical skills they’ve gained in DCC’s Integrated Machining Technology program and take the next step toward leadership and innovation in advanced manufacturing,” said Melissa Mann, Dean of Career and Technical Education at Danville Community College. “We are proud to partner with Old Dominion University to provide our graduates with a clear, attainable route to a bachelor’s degree.”

From left to right: Dr. Vukica Jovanovic, Chair of the Department of Engineering Technology, Old Dominion University; DCC Interim President Cornelius Johnson; DCC Dean of Career and Technical Education Melissa Mann; IALR Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Amanda Hylton; IALR Executive Vice President of Manufacturing Advancement Jason Wells; IALR President Telly Tucker.

The agreement is designed to eliminate transfer barriers, promote academic progression, and support the growing demand for highly trained professionals in Virginia’s manufacturing sector.

Dr. Gabriel Olmstead, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs & Student Services at DCC, emphasized the impact of the agreement on workforce development:

“This transfer pathway not only supports our students’ academic goals, but also strengthens the regional and statewide workforce by preparing highly skilled, credentialed graduates ready to lead in advanced manufacturing environments.”

Dr. Cornelius Johnson, Interim President of Danville Community College, celebrated the partnership as a step forward in higher education collaboration. “We are deeply grateful for this partnership with Old Dominion University and the IALR. Together, we are investing in students, in innovation, and in the future of Virginia’s economy,” said Johnson. “This agreement exemplifies what can be achieved when institutions come together with a shared vision for student success.”

“This partnership with ODU validates the high level of training our students receive in the Integrated Machining Technology program,” said Brandon Furgurson, IMT Professor at Danville Community College. “It’s a great feeling to know that our graduates can now transition directly into a bachelor’s degree program that builds on their hands-on experience and prepares them for advanced roles in the manufacturing industry.”

“As an electrician myself, I strongly believe in creating accessible engineering pathways and promoting affordable education that allows students to graduate with less debt,” said Dr. Vukica Jovanovic, Chair and Full Professor for the Department of Engineering Technology at Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology at ODU. “We’re proud to support alternative routes to becoming engineers through our degree completion programs – especially programs like Manufacturing Engineering Technology, which are available through ODU Global.”

The first of its kind in Virginia, ODU’s Manufacturing Engineering Technology degree pathway originally launched in 2022 as part of the Virginia Maritime Industrial Base Consortium’s (VMIBC) “Talent Pipeline Initiative.” VMIBC includes ODU, IALR, DCC, Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) and others. P&HCC worked with ODU to develop the associate degree curriculum for the Virginia Community College System, and IALR is continuing discussions with ODU to provide future on-site classes in support of the program. IALR also houses and finances IMT, instructed by DCC and the latest pathway addition for the associate and bachelor’s degrees.

“Our partnership with DCC to deliver the IMT program has contributed a phenomenal impact – from enhancing students’ lives with high-paying jobs to meeting industry’s need for a high-quality workforce,” said Telly Tucker, President, IALR. “Helping both of these groups excel even further, thanks to ODU and others, will be a tremendous asset for our region – one we look forward to making more accessible in the coming years.”

This articulation agreement is now in effect and will apply to all students currently enrolled in or entering the DCC Integrated Machining Technology program at IALR who wish to pursue further study with ODU.

“This new transfer pathway builds on the strong foundation we’ve already established through our partnerships with local K-12 programs like George Washington High School and the Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center,” said Kevin Poole, Precision Machining Technology Professor at Danville Community College. “Now, students who begin their training in high school can see a direct line to a bachelor’s degree and a rewarding career in advanced manufacturing. It’s a full-circle opportunity that sets them up for long-term success.”

“This transfer agreement gives our students a clear path to continue growing both academically and professionally,” said Joshua McDowell, Precision Machining Instructor at Danville Community College. “They’re not just learning to run machines—they’re developing the foundation to become the next generation of manufacturing engineers and industry leaders.”

 

ODU Launches Virginia’s First Four-Year Manufacturing Engineering Technology Major

ODU Launches Virginia’s First Four-Year Manufacturing Engineering Technology Major

The new program will be offered on Old Dominion University’s Norfolk campus and at a satellite campus based at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville

Old Dominion University (ODU) will launch Virginia’s first four-year major in manufacturing engineering technology (MfgET) at its Norfolk campus, as well as a satellite campus based at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), in Danville.

The new program will be housed in Old Dominion’s Batten College of Engineering and Technology’s Engineering and Technology Department.

IALR will host third- and fourth-year undergraduate level classes for the MfgET bachelor’s major of ODU on its Danville campus. The classes will be offered with on-site, virtual and hybrid options, leveraging the advanced manufacturing lab space of IALR.

Students in Southern Virginia can enter the program from multiple paths, including community colleges; the Academy for Engineering and Technology resourced by IALR; career and technical dual-enrollment programs; and incumbent workers.

The bachelor’s and associate degrees are part of the Virginia Maritime Industrial Base Consortium’s (VMIBC) “Talent Pipeline Initiative,” which aims to develop job-ready talent for defense and industrial base employers through an enhanced K-12-to-university training pipeline. The degree program has the support of industry partners, who will offer guidance and experiential work opportunities to ensure students graduate well-prepared for the work.

“This partnership reinforces Old Dominion University’s commitment to workforce development and leadership in the maritime industry,” said ODU President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. “Students across Virginia will be able to gain the necessary skills to fill essential defense jobs, aligning talent with opportunity.”

“Combining IALR, ODU, and our community college system to produce undergraduate education across Hampton Roads and Southern Virginia creates a force multiplier that strengthens our Maritime Defense Industrial Base and will help ensure America’s competitive advantage,” said Craig Crenshaw, Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs.

The training pipeline will increase manufacturing capacity, capability, resiliency and diversity in the maritime defense industrial base.

“With the advent of industry 4.0 and exponentially advancing technology, the manufacturing sector has grown into an extremely high-tech field with specialized talent needs, especially in the critical skill shortage areas of manufacturing engineering,” said IALR Interim President Betty Jo Foster, Ed.D. “We are delighted to partner with Old Dominion University, Patrick & Henry Community College and the Virginia Community College System to address the need voiced so strongly by the defense industrial base, our regional employers and industry leaders — and we look forward to expanding the program to Danville Community College and other valued partners.”

Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC), based in Martinsville, will launch a corresponding associate degree in manufacturing engineering technology that will serve as a pipeline to both the workforce and pathway to ODU’s four-year degree. P&HCC currently offers a general engineering technologies and industrial electronics technologies associate degree, as well as several manufacturing certificates.

“Patrick & Henry Community College is proud to be part of this critical initiative which will allow us to help fill local, state, and federal workforce manufacturing engineering pipelines,” said J. Gregory Hodges, Ph.D., president of Patrick & Henry Community College. “In particular, this initiative will help our nation remain competitive on the global stage as we prepare talent who possess the skills, knowledge and competencies that are essential for 21st-century manufacturers.”

A $5 million grant, announced in October, was awarded by the Department of Defense to the Virginia Office of Veterans and Defense Affairs-led VMIBC, which earned the federal designation of Defense Manufacturing Community. VMIBC includes ODU, IALR, as well as 30 other organizations, as key partners.

“The Engineering Technology department is excited to be a part of such an exciting initiative and to continue our ongoing partnership with our community college partners so that we can ramp up this much needed workforce pipeline,” said Vukica Jovanovic, Ph.D., interim chair of Department of Engineering Technology at ODU.

The two-year manufacturing engineering technology degree will eventually be available to all colleges within the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).

On March 17, IALR, along with its partners, met on the Danville campus to celebrate the launch of the two new manufacturing engineering technology programs, creating a strengthened manufacturing workforce pipeline.

Manufacturing industry partners celebrated the new program, saying:

  • “BWX Technologies, Inc. is proud to join with the other partners in supporting this important effort not just for our local community, but also for the Commonwealth of Virginia and our nation,” said BWXT Nuclear Operations Group Chief Operating Officer Gary Camper. “Our long-term forecast for naval nuclear propulsion work shows a strong demand for decades and having a consistent pipeline of skilled shop workers and manufacturing engineers is critical to our long-term growth. We place a high priority on recruiting a diverse and talented workforce and are excited for the opportunity to provide input into the curriculum development and subsequent hiring of ready-to-work employees.”
  • “We are pleased that IALR is partnering with ODU and P&HCC to provide our region with a Manufacturing Engineering Technology curriculum,” said David Bennett, vice president of Operations at the Intertape Polymer Group. “Intertape Polymer Group’s manufacturing operations continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies that have created a need for technical positions at our facilities. It’s exciting for us to support the development of this program, to provide internships and to benefit from creating high demand Engineering candidates who can have a technical career at Intertape Polymer Group and local industries.”
  • “As PRESS GLASS continues to grow in the region, we appreciate this partnership between Patrick & Henry Community College, Old Dominion University, and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research to prepare and credential manufacturing engineers locally to meet our emerging workforce needs,” said Karolina Styk, talent acquisition and development manager at PRESS GLASS.

The educational partners are developing the curriculum for the 2- and 4-year programs, which will launch in the second year of the grant cycle. Individuals interested in learning more about or enrolling in the associate degree or four-year major in Manufacturing Engineering Technology should click here to complete an interest form. 

View photos from the announcement: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzG6yK