Franklin University Shares Innovative Teacher Licensure Pathways at Community Colleges of Appalachia Conference

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Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: [email protected]

Session highlights partnership model that creates clear pathways from associate degrees to teacher licensure and helps address regional educator shortages

COLUMBUS, Ohio - As schools across Appalachia work to address ongoing teacher shortages, Franklin University leaders presented a partnership model that creates clear, affordable pathways from associate degrees to teacher licensure at the Community Colleges of Appalachia Conference.

Franklin University's Erika Miller, Community College Regional Manager, and Samantha Shear, Executive Director of Community College Alliance, led the session, Pathways for Aspiring Educators: From Associate Degree to Teacher Licensure.

The session demonstrated how community colleges and four-year universities can work together through a partnership model to create structured transfer pathways that move students efficiently from an associate degree into educator preparation programs leading to licensure.

The presentation focused on how these partnerships reduce transfer barriers for students, create more affordable pathways to four-year degrees, expand access to educator preparation programs, and strengthen local teacher pipelines in underserved regions.

"Creating clear pathways into teacher licensure is essential to addressing workforce needs and expanding opportunity," said Miller. "When institutions align programs and reduce complexity, more students can move confidently into teaching careers."

The session highlighted a partnership model involving Hocking College, Washington State College of Ohio, Zane State College, and Franklin University, designed to improve transfer access and streamline the transition from community college to licensure programs.

This partnership model helps students understand exactly how their associate degree applies toward a bachelor's degree and teacher licensure, removing uncertainty that often prevents students from continuing their education.

Presenter discussion emphasized how strong institutional alignment can shorten time to degree completion, reduce excess credit accumulation, increase enrollment in educator preparation programs, and support regional workforce development.

"As communities face increasing teacher shortages, partnership-driven pathways like this are critical," said Shear. "By simplifying the transition from community college to licensure, we create more direct and achievable routes into the profession."

Franklin University continues to collaborate with community colleges and regional partners to expand access to educator preparation programs, improve transfer outcomes, and support workforce-aligned degree completion.

FACT BOX
Session Title: Pathways for Aspiring Educators: From Associate Degree to Teacher Licensure
Presented By: Erika Miller, Community College Regional Manager, and Samantha Shear, Executive Director of Community College Alliance, Franklin University
Conference: Community Colleges of Appalachia Conference
Session Overview: Explores how community colleges and universities create clear pathways from an associate degree to teacher licensure through a partnership model involving Hocking College, Washington State College of Ohio, Zane State College, and Franklin University, with a focus on reducing barriers and expanding access to educator preparation programs.
Why This Matters: Teacher shortages across Appalachia continue to impact K-12 systems. Creating clear transfer pathways into educator preparation programs helps build sustainable local teaching pipelines while expanding access to the profession.
Impact on Students: Provides students with a clear understanding of transfer pathways to licensure, reduced cost and time to degree completion, increased access to four-year degrees, and a direct connection between education and teaching careers.

Explore how Franklin University supports transfer pathways and degree completion. Estimate Your Transfer Credit: https://www.franklin.edu/transferring-credit/estimate-your-transfer-credit

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).

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