In a significant expansion of cross-institutional collaboration, Heidelberg University (HU) and Tiffin University (TU) have formalized five new academic partnership agreements designed to expand student opportunity, streamline degree completion and meet critical workforce needs in communities here at home and across the region.
The agreements, effective beginning with the fall 2026 semester and extending through the 2031 academic year, establish structured pathways across counseling, criminal justice, teacher education and nursing. Together, they reflect a shared commitment to high-demand academic programming, student mobility and ongoing institutional collaboration.
Through these partnerships, both TU and HU will now offer clearly defined dual-enrollment and “bridge” pathways that allow students to begin graduate-level coursework earlier, transfer credits efficiently between programs and transition seamlessly into advanced degrees.
University leadership underscored the student-centered design and collaborative intent behind the agreements, highlighting both access and academic alignment across institutions.
"These agreements create clear and intentional pathways that help students move more efficiently from undergraduate study into graduate and professional preparation,” said Tiffin President Dr. Lillian Schumacher. “By aligning programs, expanding access and strengthening academic continuity, we are making it easier for students to stay focused on their goals and enter high-demand careers prepared to lead and serve.”
Heidelberg President Rob Huntington agreed. “These partnerships reflect what is possible when two institutions in the same community intentionally align their strengths in service to students,” Huntington said. “By creating structured academic pathways across multiple disciplines, we are expanding opportunity, reducing barriers to graduate education and strengthening the talent pipeline to our community and the region.”
Leaders from both universities also emphasized that the partnerships are not only about program access, but also about deepening coordination between faculties, improving advising structures and creating long-term academic continuity for students pursuing in-demand careers.
Heidelberg Provost Dr. Courtney DeMayo Pugno highlighted the direct academic benefits for students at both institutions. “What makes these agreements so powerful is the way they intentionally connect undergraduate and graduate learning in a coherent, student-centered framework,” she said. “Students benefit from clearer academic pathways, stronger career alignment, earlier access to advanced coursework and reduced duplication of effort across programs.”
Dr. Peter J. Holbrook, Provost and COO of Tiffin University, articulated a forward-looking educational partnership with Heidelberg to shape the future of academic excellence through innovative collaboration and the sharing of degree programs. “These agreements exemplify a concerted effort among faculty and academic leaders to align curricula and program structures, facilitate credit transferability, and empower graduates to enter high-demand, critical fields. By forging streamlined pathways into teacher education and nursing, we are not only addressing current workforce needs but also pioneering the evolution of education to create sustainable, impactful careers in education and healthcare," he said.
Five Structured Academic Pathways
Counseling Pathway: TU to Heidelberg Master’s Program
A direct pathway connects TU’s undergraduate programs to Heidelberg’s Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC), allowing qualified students in criminal justice or related bachelor’s programs to transition into graduate counseling study. The agreement includes:
- Up to three reserved MAC seats for TU early applicants
- Dual enrollment in TU electives and Heidelberg graduate coursework
- Up to six graduate credits completed during undergraduate study
- Credits applied toward both degree levels
Criminal Justice Bridge: Heidelberg to TU Graduate Study
Heidelberg undergraduate criminology and psychology majors gain structured entry into TU’s Master of Science in Criminal Justice program. This agreement includes:
- Eligibility during junior/senior undergraduate years
- Up to six hours of TU graduate “bridge” coursework
- Electives applied toward both degrees
- Fields include crime analysis, criminal behavior, justice administration, homeland security and forensic psychology
Teacher Education Collaboration: Program Continuity and Expansion
Tiffin University students interested in becoming teachers will have the opportunity to enroll in Heidelberg’s Educator Preparation Program through a dual-enrollment agreement.
- TU provides academic content coursework
- Heidelberg delivers education licensure and certification coursework
- Programs include Adolescence to Young Adult (AYA) and Middle Childhood licensure tracks
- Heidelberg provides advising, library access and academic support services
Expanded Education Licensure Pathway for First-Time, Full-Time Students
A parallel agreement supports first-time, full-time TU students entering education licensure programs, reinforcing the coordinated delivery of existing education programs and expanding to new programs, including:
- Integrated Social Studies licensure
- Middle Childhood licensure
- AYA teacher preparation pathways
- Early Childhood Education
- Intervention Specialist licensure
Nursing Pathways: RN-to-BSN and MSN Preparation (Registered Nursing to Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Preparation)
A multi-institutional nursing pathway connects TU and Heidelberg.
- Up to 12 BSN credits completed prior to RN licensure
- NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) eligibility after AASN (Associate of Applied Science in Nursing) and BAHS (Bachelor of Applied Health Sciences) completion
- Remaining BSN coursework completed at Heidelberg post-licensure
- MSN preparation courses available for eligible RN candidates
A model for collaboration
Collectively, the agreements reflect a sustained commitment to academic collaboration, communication and shared planning between the two universities. Administrators from both institutions described the work as an evolving model for how regional colleges can jointly serve students more effectively.
“This collaboration builds on the strengths of both universities and reinforces our shared responsibility to support the educational and workforce needs of this region,” Schumacher said.
Holbrook added, “This work reinforces how we link knowledge to professional practice by ensuring academic expectations remain consistent and intentionally connected across both institutions.”
The value of the collaboration is multi-layered, Huntington and DeMayo Pugno agreed. “It is about ensuring that students have access to meaningful, well-supported pathways that allow them to succeed through both universities and contribute back to their communities,” Huntington said.
“Ultimately, this creates more efficient, more intentional programs that support student success from the first year of college through graduate and professional preparation,” DeMayo Pugno noted.
To learn more about academic programs at Tiffin University, contact Dr. Peter J. Holbrook at holbrookpj [at] tiffin.edu.
To learn more about academic programs at Heidelberg University, contact Dr. Courtney DeMayo Pugno at cdemayo [at] heidelberg.edu.