On Tuesday, April 14, Dr. Lynn Morton, president of William Peace University, and J.B. Buxton, president of Durham Technical Community College, signed an agreement formalizing the expansion of Peace Pathways – a direct transfer partnership that streamlines the path from associate to bachelor’s degree.
The program establishes assured admission and preferred pricing for Durham Tech graduates through the Peace Pathways Transfer Program, building on an existing partnership with Wake Technical Community College.
Through the program, eligible Durham Tech graduates who earn an associate degree and then transfer to Peace will receive a special tuition rate of $10,000/year for in-person programs and $290/credit hour for online/accelerated degree programs. Students remain eligible for financial aid assistance.
Durham Tech and Peace have also streamlined the application and admission process for qualified Durham Tech graduates. Associate degree graduates from Durham Tech who meet program requirements will be automatically admitted without an application fee. They will also receive an admissions response within seven business days after applying.
President Lynn Morton observed that the new program is the latest of Peace’s initiatives to make a college degree more affordable.
“The expansion of Peace Pathways to include Durham Technical Community College demonstrates our continued commitment to broadening educational opportunities for students in the Triangle,” said President Lynn Morton. “We are proud to partner with Durham Tech to help students achieve their goals and complete their four-year degrees at Peace.”
Morton noted the partnership is made possible because of the shared values between the two institutions.
“Both Durham Tech and Peace value access to a high-quality education,” she said. “We take this duty and privilege seriously.”
Buxton said transfer pathway partnerships are among the most effective tools for helping students earn a bachelor’s degree, but only when the fit is right. At Peace, he noted, transfer students benefit from a seamless transition with strong support, acceptance of up to 90 credits, and a significantly reduced tuition rate. He added that Peace’s immersive, internship-rich environment prepares graduates to enter their chosen fields.
“It is clear to us that you don’t just want to bring Durham Tech students to Peace, you want them to finish at Peace,” he said.
Advancing Access to a College Degree
Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions Jess Waddell said her team is excited to strengthen the partnership between Peace and Durham Tech.
“Our primary goal is to provide a seamless transfer pathway for Durham Tech students, and Peace Pathways allows us to do just that,” said Waddell. “We provide one-on-one counseling throughout the entire process and ultimately want Durham Tech students to feel supported and genuinely cared for as they explore options.”
Waddell said the reception to the existing Peace Pathways with Wake Tech has been very positive and she’s confident the expanded program will be equally significant.
“Our sincere hope is that Peace Pathways has an impact on students, families, and the community at large,” she said. “It brings us joy to learn about students graduating with very little or no debt whatsoever. I have worked with transfer students for the last 15 years and it’s an incredible feeling to promote a program that I wholeheartedly believe in.”
She said transfer enrollment continues to grow at Peace, in part because the University is committed to meeting students where they are and helping them complete their degrees.
“We should always reduce application headaches and similar barriers that prevent students from continuing their education, particularly because transferring leads to accomplishing goals and graduating.”
Supporting Student Potential
Future Peace student R. Diaz spoke at the signing. He underscored the importance of personalized guidance in helping students to complete their degrees. That individual support allowed him to get back on track at Durham Tech after an illness derailed his educational plans. Diaz said he has found similar guidance at Peace through his admission process, which makes him confident that he will be successful once he transfers.
“After meeting with my admissions counselor, Jess Waddell, I immediately felt the same sense of support and belonging that I had found at Durham Tech,” he said. “Jess answered every question and when she didn’t have the answer, she made sure I was connected to someone who did.”
Diaz said the partnership between Peace and Durham Tech is especially meaningful to him as a first-generation college student.
“This partnership is more than an agreement, it is a promise that students who have faced setbacks, challenges, or closed doors will have a clear, supported path forward. A promise that potential will be recognized, nurtured, and celebrated,” he said. “I am profoundly grateful for this partnership, which is helping make my dream and the dreams of so many others come true.”
