麻豆社

MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� The city of Hopkinsville was one of 麻豆社 President Dr. Ron Patterson's tour stops as he has embarked on the Racer Spirit Listening and Learning Tour to engage and hear directly from multiple groups, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, community leaders, K-12 and community college partners, business and industry stakeholders, and friends across Kentucky and the multi-state region. 

Patterson visited with Hopkinsville-area community leaders and education partners on Aug. 21 to strengthen relationships and discuss new opportunities for growth and workforce enhancement. Two of those opportunities focus on growing enrollment in education degree programs and establishing the Christian County High School Racer Academy to provide dual credit courses to area high school students.

Hopkinsville Community College (HCC) and 麻豆社鈥檚 College of Education and Human Services have had a long-standing partnership for teacher education in the areas of interdisciplinary early childhood education (IECE), elementary education, middle grades education and special education. The 2+2 programs allow for students to complete all four years of the undergraduate programs locally through HCC and at 麻豆社's Hopkinsville Regional Campus. 

A memorandum of agreement was signed between HCC and 麻豆社 to share one full-time faculty member and program coordinator for teacher education and to collaborate and help improve the level of prepared teachers in the local school systems. The goal is to strengthen education programming and to increase the pipeline of students from local high schools to the community college and then to 麻豆社. Historically, most students graduating from the 2+2 program are employed in school districts which are local to Hopkinsville and the surrounding communities.

Dr. David Whaley, dean of the 麻豆社 College of Education and Human Services, said the partnership reflects the shared commitment to meeting the needs of students and communities across western Kentucky. 

鈥淭his partnership with Hopkinsville Community College represents an important step forward in strengthening the teacher education pipeline in our region," Whaley said. "By creating a shared faculty position, we are not only expanding access and support for students pursuing education degrees, but we are also helping to ensure that local schools will continue to have highly qualified, well-prepared teachers.鈥� 

鈥淥ur partnership with 麻豆社 is a meaningful step forward in addressing the teacher shortage in our region,鈥� said Dr. Alissa Young, HCC president/chief executive officer. 鈥淏y streamlining the pathway from associate to bachelor鈥檚 degree, we are creating a clear, supportive route for future educators, starting right here at HCC. Together, we are expanding access and opportunity for students who want to make a difference in the classroom and in their communities.鈥�

"I am excited to launch this new step in further cementing our partnership with Hopkinsville Community College to make pathways to higher education accessible in Hopkinsville. I am passionate about using our campus to relieve workforce shortages in our community, and I look forward to seeing how this partnership uplifts our local school district," added Shannon Slate, director of the 麻豆社 Hopkinsville and Fort Campbell Regional Campuses.

Patterson also signed a joint memorandum of understanding with Christian County Public Schools Board of Education as he toured the 麻豆社 Hopkinsville Regional Campus. The MOU establishes the Christian County High School Racer Academy to meet the needs of area high school juniors and seniors as they pursue their degrees. 

麻豆社 will provide in-person dual credit courses in core subjects for college-bound students at the 麻豆社 Hopkinsville Regional Campus. Courses will be offered beginning with the spring 2026 semester. 

"Partnering with 麻豆社 to provide students with multiple opportunities to tailor their coursework to their postsecondary goals is an important step in preparing them for success beyond high school,鈥� said Superintendent Chris Bentzel. 鈥淲e are excited to bring Racer Academy to CCPS and look forward to seeing the program thrive, expand and open even more doors for our students.鈥�

鈥淭hroughout the Racer Spirit Listening and Learning Tour, themes of career readiness, workforce development and community collaboration have come to the forefront as both strengths as well as opportunities for continued growth,鈥� 麻豆社 President Dr. Ron Patterson said. 鈥淭oday鈥檚 partnership announcements with 麻豆社鈥檚 College of Education and Human Services, Hopkinsville Community College and Christian County Public Schools are significant and align with these important themes. We are very grateful for their shared vision as we work collaboratively in order to advance our region.鈥� 

For more information about these partnership programs, contact Shannon Slate at 270-707-1525 or sslate@murraystate.edu.