BSCTC and UPIKE to Offer New Educational Pathway

Officials from the University of Pikeville (UPIKE) and Big Sandy
Community and Technical College (BSCTC) entered an agreement on March 7 that creates an
educational pathway between BSCTC, UPIKE and UPIKE-Kentucky College of Osteopathic
Medicine (KYCOM).

The agreement will allow individuals interested in pursuing a medical career to complete two
years of curriculum at BSCTC and transfer to UPIKE for two years of coursework to earn a
bachelor’s degree in biology and minor in chemistry from UPIKE. KYCOM will reserve seats
each academic year for two students who complete the new program and meet all admission
requirements.

Opportunities outlined in the agreement were made possible by UPIKE’s recent development of
a new general education (GE) curriculum, which allows transfer students to earn a bachelor’s
degree on a quicker timeline.

BSCTC and UPIKE look forward to expanding learning opportunities for students beginning in
the fall 2019 semester.

“We are pleased to partner with UPIKE to provide early admission to the Doctor of Osteopathic
Medicine program,” said BSCTC President/CEO Sherry Zylka, Ed.D. “We believe that through
strong and unique partnerships such as this we are building a quality future for Central
Appalachia through education.”

“The innovative general education curriculum adopted in spring 2019 reaffirms UPIKE’s
commitment to the value of a liberal arts education by making it more accessible to students in
the region,” said UPIKE Provost Lori Werth, Ph.D. “The agreement with BSCTC will benefit
not only both institutions, but all of the students enrolled and the communities in which they will
serve in the future.”

For more information about the program, contact BSCTC at 606-886-3863, or UPIKE’s Office
of Admissions at 606-218-5251 or wewantyou@upike.edu