Starting this fall, United Tribes Technical College students will be able to seamlessly transition into four-year degree programs at Minot State University.

An agreement signed Tuesday creates a partnership between the two institutions so that students can complete the first two years of coursework at United Tribes, then finish their degrees at Minot State. The first two degree areas will be criminal justice and business management.

"These types of agreements allow us to expand and develop activities on campus," said Phil Baird, vice president of academic services at UTTC.

The tribal college also has agreements with Sinte Gleska University in South Dakota for elementary education and early childhood education, Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico for art and art marketing students and the University of North Dakota for education administration, secondary education and special education. Minot State also has agreements with Fort Berthold Community College in New Town and Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt, according to a release from United Tribes. The agreement with United Tribes is for three years.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktrib-une.com.)