ECU’s industrial technology transfer program receives national accolades
GREENVILLE, N.C. (5/15/2025) — The East Carolina University Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT) program has received accolades in a national report highlighting successes in community college transfer programs.
The Transfer Playbook, produced by the Aspen Institute and Community College Research Center, touts the BSIT program for its success in helping community college transfer students obtain bachelor’s degrees at a rate 10 percentage points higher than the national average. The report credits advising staff, online classes and an emphasis on transfer student experiences as some of the reasons behind the program’s success, calling it a model for other four-year institutions to follow.
The BSIT program offers four-year degree completion to students who have a two-year Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in a qualified technical field. Many of these students are already in the workforce but need a bachelor’s degree to qualify for leadership roles, which can lead to career advancement and higher earnings. Five of the seven concentrations in the program can be completed fully online, meaning students will not have to leave their hometowns, jobs or families to obtain bachelor’s degrees.
“We’ve set a high bar for ourselves, and it’s both humbling and inspiring to be recognized as an institution that’s doing it right,” said Dr. David Batts, associate professor and BSIT program coordinator. “But if I’m being honest, the greatest pride doesn’t come from accolades. It comes from our students. Talking with them at graduation, hearing their stories, that’s where the real impact lives — stories like the single mother who returned to school to build a better future for her family or the father who completed his degree to set an example for his children.
“In the end, it’s always about the students — who they become, what they overcome and how we’ve helped them along the way. That’s the legacy we’re most proud of.”
The BSIT program offers seven degree concentrations. Bioprocess manufacturing; distribution and logistics; industrial management; industrial engineering technology; and information and cybersecurity technology can be completed fully online or through face-to-face instruction on ECU’s campus. Two concentrations — architecture design technology and mechanical design technology — require face-to-face instruction, though mechanical design technology students can choose to take classes at Wake Technical Community College’s southern campus in Raleigh.
ECU’s Department of Technology Systems has been working with AAS transfer students for more than 40 years. With a more formalized curriculum, the BSIT program began in 2003 and has grown from roughly 150 students to about 700 annually.
Anyone interested in the program can go to the BSIT website, email program coordinator Dr. David Batts or program advisor Jason Denius, or call the Department of Technology Systems at 252-328-9640.
About East Carolina University
Founded in 1907 as a teacher’s college, East Carolina University (ECU) is a Carnegie R1 designated research institution that is a national model for student success, public service and regional transformation. ECU is a member of the University of North Carolina System and serves nearly 27,000 students through more than 160 degree programs. The university advances innovation and discovery in health care, coastal resilience, education and regional economic growth. Located in Greenville, North Carolina, ECU is committed to being a national leader in community-focused innovation, bringing meaningful impact across the state and nation.
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