Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
South Texas College and Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), since the partnership’s inception in 2015, have worked together to provide students of the Rio Grande Valley a seamless transfer process, and recently the institutions renewed this commitment.
Earlier this week, STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D. and OLLU President Abel A. Chavez, Ph.D., signed an articulation agreement that gives students at STC pursuing Psychology, general or pre-counseling; Social Work or Criminal Justice the opportunity to go from associate degree to bachelor’s degree, with all credits being transferrable.
“Our partnership with one of the most premier and established institutions in Texas and across the nation is symbolic,” said Solis. “To give our students the opportunity of a seamless transition into a university with some of the latest and most visionary programs is a step in creating skillful human capital. We’re so glad we get to celebrate this partnership and most importantly, we plan on continuing to work very closely and diligently so we can all continue to provide higher education opportunities in our region.”
Chavez said this partnership is especially near to his heart because he got his start at a community college, and he realizes the impact colleges, like STC, have on students and their families.
“To be working with STC and formalizing an agreement to bridge a gap, is truly my purpose and life mission,” said Chavez. “The goal is to reduce the time and the cost of degree completion in professions that are in high demand, and this partnership will continue to grow with an already formalized plan to expand our agreement into cybersecurity. I truly appreciate working with Dr. Solis and his team on these monumental initiatives.”
Kelli Davis, STC Transfer and Educational Advancement Center director, said this partnership has been transformative for the many students it has benefited.
“Annually, dozens of STC students transfer to Our Lady of the Lake University to continue their education because they are ensured credit transfer through this partnership,” she said. “We’re breaking down barriers with OLLU and to have this type of college experience – personalized and flexible scheduling, is important to the region and the residents we serve.”
STC’s Transfer and Educational Advancement Center offers STC students transfer opportunities to more than 40 universities statewide with more than 150 agreements with partnering universities that match curriculum to reduce duplication of course content.
Throughout the year, the department also hosts college fairs and numerous transfer virtual events.
For more information on the services offered by STC’s Transfer and Educational Advancement Center, visit southtexascollege.edu.
