President Ken Kitts and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Ross Alexander pose with Drake State Community and Technical College President Patricia Sims.

UNA, Drake State Community and Technical College Sign Learning Agreement

Dec. 13, 2021



Michelle R. Eubanks , UNA, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392

FLORENCE, AL – Officials with the University of North Alabama and Drake State Community and Technical College have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will benefit all Drake State graduates seeking to complete their bachelor’s degree at UNA.

“We are so excited for this new partnership with UNA as it will afford our students another option on their path to success,” said Dr. Patricia Sims, President of Drake State Community and Technical College. “Our two institutions will work together to ensure the transition from a twoyear college to a four-year university is smooth for Drake State graduates.”

The agreement is similar to others that have been signed with two-year institutions in Alabama and Tennessee. Further, it provides pathways for Drake State and UNA to explore additional educational opportunities for the benefit of students. The agreement is effective immediately, and Drake State students may begin taking advantage of the agreement for the Spring ’22 semester in both online and on-campus courses.

“UNA is pleased to partner with Drake State Community and Technical College on this mutually beneficial and worthy learning agreement,” said Dr. Ross Alexander, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Both institutions are key players in serving the workforce development needs of the state and region.”

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of the NCAA Division I’s ASUN and Big South conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: www.una.edu and www.una.edu/unaworks/

About Drake State Community and Technical College

Drake State Community and Technical College offers flexible, affordable university-transfer and technical degrees, certificates, adult and continuing education, and customized skills training to fulfill the diverse workforce needs of employers in North Alabama and beyond. As a two-year community college, we provide hands-on training for individuals looking to enter the workforce or those already in the workforce who are looking to skill up. In April 2021, Drake State began a year-long celebration of its 60th anniversary, including multiple campus events for students and the community. Visit www.drakestate.edu for more information.