The Mellon Pathways to the Arts and Humanities Program supports and guides students during their studies at John Tyler or J. Sargeant Reynolds community college, and as they transfer to Virginia Commonwealth University.

Introduced at the community college level, the Pathways Program provides students with a solid foundation from which they can successfully study the arts and humanities at VCU.

How do students benefit?

Students in the Pathways Program receive enhanced advising about course selection, transfer logistics and financial aid, along with major and career exploration opportunities and support leading up to, through and after the transfer process. Additional program benefits include:

• Saving money on tuition by taking the community college classes that count toward your degree and for transfer credit


• Earning money for college through funding and scholarships that include e-Portfolio stipends and the exclusive Mellon Research Fellows program, which pairs highly motivated second-year Pathways Program students with faculty members for enhanced mentoring, advising and research projects


• Starting an early relationship with VCU by participating in VCU activities and events before you transfer, and taking VCU coursework toward your major while still at community college


• Career exploration and support through access to and assistance with creating an e-Portfolio on the VCU platform, as well as optional internship, study abroad and da Vinci Center certificate programs

Who is eligible?

The Pathways Program is open to all incoming, returning and current Tyler or Reynolds students with 15 or fewer credits who are planning to earn an associate degree and transfer to VCU.

Additionally, students must attend a half-day orientation at the beginning of their first semester in the program, have a 2.0 GPA at the start of the program and have a 2.5 GPA at the time of transfer.

Pathways Program students pursue arts and humanities majors (including double majors) in the following subject areas at VCU:

• African American studies
• Anthropology
• Art history
• English
• Foreign language
• Gender, sexuality, and women’s studies
• History
• Interdisciplinary studies (select degrees)
• International studies
• Mass communications
• Music
• Philosophy
• Religious studies
• Theater
• Undecided, with interest in humanities/arts

Learn More

As students go through the process of transferring from Tyler or Reynolds, the program’s transfer coaches and coordinators will help keep them on track and on the path to success.

Reynolds Pathways Program
Paul Williams, transfer coach
pwilliams@reynolds.edu

John Tyler Pathways Program
Kirstin Pantazis, transfer coach
kpantazis@jtcc.edu

VCU
Ian Coyle, transfer coordinator
coylei@vcu.edu

Program director
Micol Hutchison
mhutchison@vccs.edu