A pen stroke and a handshake signified the start of a new relationship between Houston Community College (HCC) and Texas Southern University (TSU) – one that focuses on creating the ultimate student experience.
A crowd that included students, administrators, trustees, and staff from both institutions gathered at the TSU College of Education to witness Dr. Cesar Maldonado, HCC chancellor and Dr. Austin Lane, TSU president sign a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow students to complete their core classes at HCC then make a seamless transfer to the four-year university.
“We are excited to partner with HCC and strengthen the bonds of higher education between the campuses,” said Lane. “We are going to work in an aggressive manner and ensure that interested students know how to get from the community college system into a direct track that ends in a bachelor’s degree.”
The articulation agreement provides the framework to develop programs that will enhance the educational experience of students attending both HCC and TSU in a manner that is both cost-effective and simple. Benefits to students include:
- scholarship opportunities
- joint admission
- transfer and reverse transfer of credit
- academic advising services
- data sharing
“Studies show that students who start at community college complete in much higher numbers than students who start straight at the university,” said Maldonado. “Our objective here is to help our students, ease their burdens, and focus on student success.”
Milo Mansaray is quite familiar with life at TSU and HCC. She graduated from TSU with a Bachelor’s in Biology and is pursuing an Associate Degree in Nursing at HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences.
“I think the HCC-TSU agreement is a great opportunity for students and long overdue,” she said.
Two-time TSU alumna Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, HCC Board of Trustees Secretary, joined Dr. Adriana Tamez, HCC Board of Trustees Chair in expressing the significance of this partnership.
“It is history in the making,” said Tamez. “The fact that we have collaborated well together both the administration and support level, to make this happen at both sides, says a lot about the commitment at TSU and HCC.”
For information about programs and courses at HCC, visit hccs.edu.
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