SCC signs new transfer agreement with Robeson Community College

Southeastern Community College and Robeson Community College entered a Strategic Regional Partnership that facilitates a smooth transfer of SCC students to RCC in the Culinary Arts, Surgical Technology and Respiratory Therapy programs. SCC President Dr. Chris English and RCC President Melissa Singler signed articulation agreements in the RCC auditorium lobby on Nov. 4 to mark the occasion.  

“This is an exciting full circle moment in having this partnership with Southeastern Community College, where I started my academic career,” Singler said. “So, to be able to sit in this chair today and work with Dr. English and all of you wonderful folks is amazing.” 

Singler is looking forward to meeting Columbus County students on RCC’s campus and seeing them earn success in their programs. She described the partnership as “seamless” and something that “just makes sense” in an opportunity to open doors for students in the southeastern North Carolina region.  

“With me serving in Robeson County, Dr. English serving in Columbus County and also having Bladen Community College in the middle, students don’t really pay attention to those separating lines,” Singler said. “The conversation for this partnership really started around making sure students are aware of programs at each of our institutions that are not offered here.” 

In efforts to mitigate missed opportunities, Singler said the partnership was forged so that students could complete their general education requirements at SCC and then transfer to RCC for the program they want. She said that, in the future, RCC would reciprocate those efforts and send RCC students to SCC if a particular program was not offered at RCC.  

“Partnering with RCC gives us a way to counter the employment shortfalls we have in healthcare and overcome the problem of not having an on-site location to house those programs,” English said. “Essentially, the student will be with us for a year and then transfer to Robeson for the technical courses.” 

All three signed agreements between SCC and RCC states that beginning in the fall 2026 semester, RCC will reserve six seats in each cohort for Culinary Arts students, three seats for Surgical Technology students and three seats for Respiratory Therapy students identified by SCC for transfer.  

“This means the world to Columbus County,” English said. “When we go out into the community to recruit and listen to the needs of potential students, these programs are areas of need that we can’t support by ourselves at Southeastern. So, thank goodness we have a sister college in Robeson that is willing to step up and meet the needs of Columbus County and even the region.”   

Dr. Brandon Jenkins, SCC Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, explained that SCC student advisors will guide students through the course registration process and advise them on their next steps when applying to RCC. Instructors in the Nursing and Healthcare and Business Careers divisions will expose their students to the program options available at RCC.  

Jenkins said that all students applying to these three programs at RCC will have to meet all program requirements prior to registering for classes. Once they have applied to and are accepted, RCC advisors will be responsible for advising admitted students.  

Are you interested in these transfer options in Culinary Arts, Surgical Technology or Respiratory Therapy? Contact Students Services in A-building at SCC or visit this information resource found here to get started!