LAKELAND, FL — Polk State College and Florida Polytechnic University have signed a new articulation agreement creating the Eagle to Phoenix Pathway, giving students a seamless route from an associate degree at Polk State to a bachelor’s degree at Florida Poly.
The agreement, signed Thursday, July 30, by Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas and Florida Poly President Devin Stephenson, allows students to complete their Associate in Arts (AA) degree and required prerequisites at Polk State before transferring directly into one of 10 bachelor’s degree programs at Florida Poly. The programs focus on STEM — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — preparing students for careers in some of Florida’s fastest-growing and most in-demand fields.
The expanded partnership builds on a 2019 agreement that previously provided a transfer pathway into only one Florida Poly bachelor’s degree program. Under the new agreement, students can now transfer into programs in aerospace engineering, applied mathematics, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, and physics.
College leaders said the Eagle to Phoenix Pathway strengthens Florida’s statewide 2+2 transfer system by guaranteeing qualified Polk State graduates acceptance into specific Florida Poly programs while helping address the state’s growing need for highly skilled STEM professionals.
“Today’s signing marks a truly historic moment for Polk State and the students we serve,” Kamoutsas said. “By 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’s degrees.”
Stephenson said the partnership expands access to higher education while strengthening Florida’s workforce.
“This partnership demonstrates what’s possible when higher education institutions unite around a shared commitment to student success,” Stephenson said. “Together, we are creating more opportunities for students to achieve their goals and make meaningful contributions to their communities and beyond.”
The signing ceremony brought together students, community leaders, and industry partners, including Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School student Mason McRae. McRae, who plans to pursue aerospace engineering, said the new pathway provides a clear roadmap toward his goal of becoming a NASA propulsion engineer after serving as a fixed-wing jet mechanic in the Air Force Reserves.
Florida Polytechnic University is the state’s only public university dedicated exclusively to STEM education and has been ranked the No. 1 public college in the South for five consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. Polk State College, established in 1964, serves more than 14,000 students across multiple campuses in Polk County and also provides certificate, workforce training, and charter high school programs.
SOURCE: POLK STATE COLLEGE
