Agreement Paves Way for AC Transfer Students
AC/SFA News Service
Officials from Angelina College and Stephen F. Austin State University on Tuesday met to perform a celebratory signing signaling the beginning of a new partnership designed to pave a clearer pathway for transfer students.
With a crowd consisting of visiting dignitaries – including Lufkin mayor Mark Hicks, who attended both AC and SFA – along with staff and other members from each institution, AC president Dr. Michael Simon and SFA president Dr. Neal Weaver finalized a collaboration designed to benefit current and future students throughout the East Texas region.
“We appreciate the partnership with Angelina College,” Weaver said. “We’re excited about the future. The reality is East Texas doesn’t work if we can’t work together.
“Our partnership is designed to help all the people of East Texas who see a brighter future through education,” Weaver added. “We are designed to work together. We are designed for that purpose, and now we’re in a position to do it together.”
Weaver then added a surprise announcement regarding the “The Purple Promise Program,” which previously allowed students of families earning less than $80,000 per year to attend SFA tuition-free. Later, the threshold was raised to $100,00 per family.
On Tuesday, Weaver announced an addendum:
“Today, I’m proud to announce that no longer are we restricting that Purple Promise Program just to incoming freshmen,” Weaver said. “Today, this promise is available to the graduates of Angelina College.
“The door to an education, the door to a brighter future, is wide open. Through this partnership, we hope the students from this community and the surrounding communities will step through that door to a future they can’t possibly imagine.”
AC president Simon noted that when it comes to the citizens – especially the parents – of the region, the distinction between the two organizations isn’t as important as the opportunities provided.
“You just want to know there’s an educational system in your community so that your students, your young ones, can get a good education, get out into the world and start being productive, raising families and grandbabies and doing all those things folks do,” Simon said.
“One of the things I say to my board all the time is, ‘We have our mission statement, but what gets me out of bed every day is changing people’s lives for the better,’” Simon said. “I believe AC and SFA do that in incredibly deep and important ways. I have to say it’s a great day to be a Roadrunner, and it’s a great day to be a Lumberjack.”
Megan Kelley, SFA Academic Partnerships Coordinator, spoke about the process leading to the recent collaboration while listing some of the major benefits to students.
“When I stepped into this role, I took the time to meet with individuals across the SFA campus to discuss goals and expectations,” Kelley said. “A shared priority quickly emerged: the desire to strengthen relationships with community colleges and provide more resources and support for our transfer students. Achieving this goal wouldn’t be possible without the invaluable collaboration of our partners here at Angelina College.
“Today we are here celebrate new opportunities for Angelina College students, to provide support and resources for them to be successful now and in their futures.”
According to Kelley, some of the new opportunities available for Angelina College students include:
- New and updated career pathways that provide a clear and direct map for students transferring from AC to SFA
- An increase in transferrable credit hours that allows students to transfer 90 credit hours to complete their degree
- The Lumberjack Transfer Alliance, which is a program designed to offer enhanced resources and opportunities for transfer students, ensuring a smoother and more seamless transition from AC to SFA. AC students who join this program will receive the following benefits:
- Access to not only AC advisors, but also SFA advisors to help plan their transfer journey
- Specialized SFA recruitment events held on both AC and SFA campuses
- Opportunities to attend SFA sporting and fine arts events
- All students participating in this program will have their $50 application fee waived
- Students who complete an associate’s degree from AC will be granted guaranteed admission to SFA
- Students who graduate AC with cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher will receive a one-time $500 stipend in addition to the Lumberjack Transfer Scholarship
“We are thrilled about these new opportunities available to students and optimistic that together with our partnership with Angelina College, we will empower these students and help them achieve their goals,” Kelley said.
Following the momentous partnership signing ceremony, Angelina College students had the opportunity to meet with SFA faculty and staff regarding their own futures. The “SFA at AC Day” Student Transfer Fair included numerous SFA faculty members on-hand to provide input and guidance.
Dr. Kent Willis, SFA Senior Vice President of Enrollment and Student Engagement, reminded all of the commitment the educators from both institutions have made to bettering the lives of others.
“I just want to share that we’re celebrating a brighter future for every student who will have the opportunity to enter your (AC) and our (SFA) doors and collectively graduate with a college degree,” Willis said.
“You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.”
For further information, contact Krista Brown at kbrown@angelina.edu.
Photo captions:
Dr. Neal Weaver and Dr. Simon Signing:
Stephen F. Austin State University president Dr. Neal Weaver (left) and Angelina College president Dr. Michael Simon sign the documents finalizing a collaboration between the two institutions during Tuesday’s “SFA at AC Day” ceremony held on the AC campus. The partnership will allow a smoother pathway for transfer students. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)
Dr. Neal Weaver and Dr. Simon Handshake:
Stephen F. Austin State University president Dr. Neal Weaver (left) and Angelina College president Dr. Michael Simon shake hands after signing the documents finalizing a collaboration between the two institutions during Tuesday’s “SFA at AC Day” ceremony held on the AC campus. The partnership will allow a smoother pathway for transfer students. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)
SFA and AC Staff:
Staff members from Stephen F. Austin State University and Angelina College pose following Tuesday’s “SFA at AC Day” ceremony held on the AC campus. The presidents of the institution (SFA’s D. Neal Weaver, fourth from left and AC’s Dr. Michael Simon, third from right) signed the documents launching a new collaboration designed to create smoother pathways for transfer students. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)
Dr. Michael Simon Addressing Crowd:
Angelina College president Dr. Michael Simon addresses the crowd during Tuesday’s “SFA at AC Day” ceremony held on the AC campus. Simon and Stephen F. Austin State University president Dr. Neal Weaver signed a new collaboration designed to create smoother pathways for transfer students. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)
Dr. Neal Weaver Addressing Crowd:
Stephen F. Austin State University president Dr. Neal Weaver addresses the crowd during Tuesday’s “SFA at AC Day” ceremony held on the AC campus. Weaver and Angelina College president Dr. Michael Simon signed a new collaboration designed to create smoother pathways for transfer students. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)
Mayor Mark Hicks:
Lufkin Mayor Mark Hicks shares with the crowd his experiences as an Angelina College and Stephen F. Austin State University during Tuesday’s “SFA at AC Day” ceremony held on the AC campus. Presidents of both institutions signed a new collaboration designed to create smoother pathways for transfer students. (Gary Stallard/AC News Service photo)
SFA Reps with Tshirt:
Representatives from Stephen F. Austin State University show off a customized t-shirt during Tuesday’s “SFA at AC Day” Student Fair held at Angelina College. Presidents of both institutions signed a new collaboration designed to create smoother pathways for transfer students. (Contributed photo)