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PARTNERSHIPS
Partnerships with private-sector entities demonstrate MTSU’s ability to be responsive to the economic and educational needs of our state, further enhancing our value as a major contributor to Tennessee’s growing economy.
University partnerships and public service initiatives also support our educational efforts and provide students with the breadth and relevance of experience needed to be successful both in college and eventually in the professional workplace.
Here is a look at some of MTSU’s top partnerships in 2022:
MTSU, its Aerospace Department, and Delta Air Lines celebrated a fourth anniversary of their partnership in 2022 with a very special occasion: recognizing alumnus Colton Gray as the first graduate of Delta’s Propel pilot program. A 2018 MTSU graduate, Gray, 29, of Lebanon, began training in 2022 to fly for Delta as part of an accelerated program to fill a growing industry need for aviators.
Colton Gray
Gray applied early, has flown three years with Republic Airways, and became the first Propel pilot for Delta, which has partnerships with only 15 aviation schools nationwide, including MTSU.
Four years ago, MTSU was among the first eight universities to enter the partnership with Delta to encourage qualified Professional Pilot majors to pursue a defined, accelerated path allowing candidates to earn their flight certifications, build their experience, and meet all requirements to become a Delta pilot in 42 months or less.
MTSU and the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America renewed a partnership allowing prospective students from the council, which serves 37 middle Tennessee counties and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to attend events on campus and seek faculty mentors for activities and merit badges. About 20,000 youths and their families participate in programs conducted by the Nashville-based council, which is consistently among the nation’s fastest-growing.
A team of around 25 Recording Industry, Media Arts, and Journalism students helped produce content at this year’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival under the guidance of MTSU faculty and staff. Students in Media Arts and Recording Industry were scheduled to do only two concerts for Bonnaroo’s Other Stage for Hulu, one of the world’s largest streaming services. But Bonnaroo and Hulu executives were so impressed by MTSU’s work that they upped it to 11 concerts from the Other Stage, in addition to the 10 recorded performances at the Who Stage.
Amazon announced a partnership with more than 140 universities and colleges, including MTSU, to provide fully paid tuition for more than 750,000 hourly Amazon workers. Amazon’s $1.2 billion investment to this Career Choice program is expected to aid more than 300,000 employees by 2025.
MTSU’s School of Concrete and Construction Management reconnected with the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix for the second year of their continuing partnership. MTSU worked with the Grand Prix in its inaugural year to develop a special lighter weight and more durable mix for the concrete barriers around the track, as well as concrete pads along pit row.
MTSU continues to be a university of choice to serve corporate entities. In the past year, corporate partnerships have been signed with McGuire Management Group, owner of 20 McDonald’s restaurants in the region; Rich Foods; Chick-fil-A Murfreesboro; and Chickfil-A Melrose Place, Nashville.
