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Polk State College and Florida Polytechnic University have entered into an articulation agreement, establishing the Eagle to Phoenix Pathway program for students.<\/p>\n
Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas and Florida Poly President Devin Stephenson signed the agreement on Thursday, July 30, at the university\u2019s campus, strengthening the partnership between the institutions and expanding opportunities for students.<\/p>\n
Under the agreement, Polk State students can complete their Associate in Arts (AA) degree and all required prerequisites on the college\u2019s campuses before seamlessly transferring to one of 10 targeted bachelor\u2019s degree programs at Florida Poly \u2013 the state\u2019s only public university exclusively dedicated to STEM.<\/p>\n
The agreement builds on a 2019 partnership that created a transfer pathway to only one Florida Poly bachelor\u2019s degree. Students will now be able to transfer into one of 10 bachelor\u2019s programs.<\/p>\n
The available pathways include:<\/p>\n
Aerospace EngineeringApplied MathematicsCivil EngineeringComputer EngineeringComputer ScienceCybersecurityElectrical EngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringMechanical EngineeringPhysics<\/p>\n
The partnership builds upon the statewide 2+2 articulation system, which guarantees AA graduates admission to a state university, by ensuring acceptance into specific Florida Poly programs.<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s signing ceremony brought together students, community supporters, industry partners and institutional leaders to mark the launch of a partnership designed to accelerate student success.<\/p>\n
Mason McRae, a prospective participant and Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School student, is completing Engineering Technology courses at Polk State. He said the new program is opening doors for himself and his peers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith Florida Poly and Polk State partnering for this program, it lays out my college plans and provides a seamless transfer for a specialized engineering pathway,\u201d said McRae, who plans to pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree in aerospace engineering.<\/p>\n
After graduation, he hopes to continue to a career as a fixed-wing jet mechanic with the Air Force Reserves and eventually become a NASA propulsion engineer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe the Eagle to Phoenix program is what will help me reach that future,\u201d McRae said.<\/p>\n
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President Kamoutsas said the agreement opens vital new avenues for local students.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s signing marks a truly historic moment for Polk State and the students we serve,\u201d he said. \u201cBy guaranteeing acceptance to 10 high-demand programs at Florida Poly, we are removing barriers and providing our students a clear, confident path to their bachelor\u2019s degrees. This partnership will transform lives, strengthen families and help build a strong, more innovative Florida for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new pathway addresses the state\u2019s growing demand for career-ready STEM professionals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis partnership demonstrates what\u2019s possible when higher education institutions unite around a shared commitment to student success,\u201d President Stephenson said. \u201cThe Eagle to Phoenix Pathway program expands access to a world-class education while strengthening the pipeline of highly skilled talent our state needs. Together, we are creating more opportunities for students to achieve their goals and make meaningful contributions to their communities and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n
About Polk State College<\/p>\n
Located in Polk County, Florida, and established in 1964, Polk State<\/a> is a multi-campus institution serving more than 14,000 students with Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science degrees, as well as 9,000 individuals in a wide range of certificate and workforce training programs. The College also operates three charter high schools.<\/p>\n Polk State\u2019s advantages include small class sizes; hands-on learning; dedicated faculty; day and night classes; online options; affordable tuition; excellent financial aid; and a diverse community and vibrant student life, including fine arts opportunities, clubs, and intercollegiate athletics. Connect <\/a>with Polk State.<\/p>\n About Florida Polytechnic University<\/p>\n Florida Polytechnic University is ranked the No.1 public college in the South for five years in a row and No. 3 best value public school in the South by U.S. News and World Report. It is a top 30 public engineering program without a Ph.D. in the nation for five years in a row. Florida Poly is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and a member of the State University System of Florida. It is the only state university dedicated exclusively to STEM and offers ABET-accredited degrees. Florida Poly is a powerful economic engine within the state of Florida, blending applied research with industry partnerships to give students an academically rigorous education with real-world relevance. Florida Poly\u2019s iconic Innovation, Science, and Technology Building, designed by world-renowned architect Dr. Santiago Calatrava, has won more than 20 global awards and was named one of the 16 most breathtaking buildings<\/a> in the world. Connect<\/a> with Florida Poly.<\/p>\n Related Articles<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2026 by Polk Newsroom Polk State College and Florida Polytechnic University have entered…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":358211,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29],"class_list":["post-358210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-florida","tag-florida","tag-florida-headlines","tag-florida-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=358210"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358210\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/358211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=358210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=358210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=358210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}