SCC and Winona State University Partner to Meet the Need for Business Education Teachers
South Central College (SCC) and Winona State University (WSU) have partnered on a transfer agreement aimed at addressing the need for skilled business education teachers.
Students in SCC’s Office Administration and Technology (OAT) program who graduate with their administrative office management associate of science (AS) degree can transfer as third-year students into WSU’s Business Education (Teaching) program to pursue their business education teaching bachelor of science in teaching (BT) degree.
Business Education is one of the 2024-25 Minnesota designated teacher shortage areas and WSU’s program has a 100% job placement rate. “By providing our graduates an opportunity to continue their education, we are helping meet Minnesota’s need for highly qualified high school business teachers,” said George Taylor, SCC Dean of Business and Industry.
Former high school teacher and current SCC OAT faculty member Kari Bluth has a unique perspective on the value of the partnership. “As a graduate of the Business Education program at WSU, I know first-hand the quality of education and training. I also know, as a former high school business education teacher, how many schools are desperate to find qualified professionals to teach these vital skills.”
The faculty at WSU and SCC have collaborated extensively over the years and both find value in being able to accommodate the needs of students interested in the BT degree. Program Director for WSU Dana Brigson, also a former high school teacher who teaches and advises the BT Degree, emphasized this relationship by saying, “Faculty collaboration, communication with students, and respectful relationships are maintained to ensure a streamlined and clear process throughout this educational journey.”
Information about the Administrative Office Management AS degree articulation agreement is on the SCC Office Administration and Technology website: www.southcentral.edu/OAT. Information about WSU’s Business Education (Teaching) program is available at www.winona.edu/academics/programs/business-education-teaching.
Both South Central College and Winona State University are part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 26 colleges and seven universities. SCC is a comprehensive community and technical college with campuses in North Mankato and Faribault that offers programs that prepare students to immediately start a rewarding career after graduation, transfer to a 4-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree – or do both. For more information, visit www.southcentral.edu. Founded in 1858, Winona State University is the oldest member of the Minnesota State system and offers more than 80 undergraduate, pre-professional, licensure, graduate, and doctoral programs across five colleges. With a presence in Winona and Rochester, Minnesota, as well as a growing online program portfolio, the University is proud to promote itself as “a community of learners improving our world”. For more information, visit www.winona.edu.
