On Tuesday, Crowder College in Neosho and Missouri Southern in Joplin formalized a new transfer agreement. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

The accord signed by Crowder College’s President Dr. Katricia Pierson and MSSU’s President Dr. Dean Van Galen creates a direct course schedule and pathway for community college students at Crowder to transfer to Southern.

Allowing teacher-education students to complete their Bachelor’s degrees in exactly four years. Southern’s Provost of Vice President of Academic Affairs Lisa Toms speaking Tuesday.

“And it is we hope the first of many, like articulation agreements that will allow students to take advantage of Crowder’s fine programs and then transfer to thee, honestly world-class programs that we have here at Missouri Southern.”

The education certifications available include Elementary, Early Childhood, Special Education, Spanish and more. The program goes into effect this fall. Late last year, the Missouri State Department of Education estimated that five percent of all teaching positions in the state were unfilled or held by unqualified individuals.