Danville Community College (DCC) and Old Dominion University (ODU) have established a new transfer agreement that creates a direct pathway for DCC Industrial Maintenance Technology students to continue their education toward a bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology at ODU.
Through the agreement, students completing DCC’s Associate of Applied Science in Industrial Maintenance Technology can transfer coursework toward ODU’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology in Manufacturing Engineering Technology, creating a more streamlined route from hands-on technical education to an advanced four-year degree.
“This partnership is a tremendous example of what can happen when institutions work together to remove barriers and create clear pathways for students,” said Dr. Cornelius Johnson, President of Danville Community College. “Students can begin at DCC, build a strong technical and academic foundation, and know that there is a defined next step available to them at Old Dominion University. Opportunities like this strengthen not only individual students, but the workforce and communities we serve.”
For students who may initially choose a two-year technical program because they want to enter the workforce quickly, the agreement also demonstrates that career and technical education can be the beginning of a longer academic journey.
“We want students to understand that earning a technical degree does not put a ceiling on their education,” said Dr. DeAndre Howard, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services at DCC. “This partnership gives students another option. They can develop valuable workforce skills at DCC while building toward a bachelor’s degree and the additional career opportunities that come with it.”
The pathway builds upon DCC’s Industrial Maintenance Technology curriculum, which prepares students with skills in areas including industrial electricity, mechanical systems, instrumentation, programmable logic controllers, hydraulics and pneumatics, and other technologies used in modern manufacturing environments.
“Our Industrial Maintenance Technology students are already developing the practical skills and technical understanding that are essential in today’s advanced manufacturing environment,” said Melissa Mann, Dean of Career and Technical Education at DCC. “This agreement gives them an opportunity to take that foundation even further. Students can begin with hands-on technical training at DCC and now have a clearly defined pathway to continue their education in Manufacturing Engineering Technology at ODU.”
For DCC Industrial Maintenance Technology student TJ Hodnett, the new pathway provides a tangible connection between the skills he is developing now and where his education can take him next.
“The Industrial Maintenance program has given me hands-on experience and a strong foundation in how the systems used in manufacturing actually work,” said TJ Hodnett. “Knowing I can build on what I’ve learned at DCC and continue toward a four-year degree at ODU gives me a clear path forward and opens up even more possibilities for my future.”
The partnership also has implications for Southern Virginia’s manufacturing workforce, where employers increasingly rely on employees who understand both the hands-on operation of industrial systems and the technology and processes behind modern manufacturing.
"This partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when strong community partners come together for a common purpose," said Olga Maximenko, People & Culture Business Partner for JTI Leaf Services. "Educational institutions, employers, and community leaders each have an important role in creating sustainable opportunities. When we align our efforts, we can help remove barriers, address workforce needs and create pathways that benefit individuals, families, employers, and the broader community."
At ODU, the agreement creates another avenue for Virginia community college students to continue their education while building upon the technical coursework they have already completed.
"Together, we are helping prepare the next generation of manufacturing engineers and providing Virginia’s economy with a workforce ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities of advanced manufacturing," said Dr. Vukica Jovanovic, Chair of the Department of Engineering Technology at Old Dominion University."
The transfer agreement reflects a shared commitment by DCC and ODU to create educational pathways that connect technical training, higher education and the evolving needs of Virginia’s manufacturing sector.
“This is exactly the kind of opportunity we want to continue creating for our students,” Johnson added. “There should not be a divide between workforce education and continued academic advancement. Students should be able to develop skills that prepare them for employment today while still having a clear pathway to where they want to go tomorrow.”
Students interested in DCC’s Industrial Maintenance Technology program and the transfer pathway to Old Dominion University can learn more by visiting danville.edu or calling 434-797-2222.
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