Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
South Texas College and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ventured into an extraordinary partnership that will make it easier for students to complete their higher educational journey.
STC and UTRGV recently signed into effect a joint admission agreement that is set to launch in spring 2023, that will benefit students from across the region with a one admission application process to both institutions and/or a seamless transfer to the university.
STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D., said in the past year, STC has developed strategies, a culture and structures from a leadership perspective that fosters creativity and innovation, and through this partnership with UTRGV, both institutions are leading the way to create a pathway toward student success.
“There are two very important components of education as we rapidly move forward into the future – our students and access to knowledge,” said Solis. “This is what we, the largest institutions in South Texas provide, and through this merger and our collaboration, we are leveraging our resources for the betterment of our students. This is powerful.”
Annually, UTRGV reports that more than 1,300 students apply to the university and are not admitted because they don’t meet college readiness standards, and this agreement will minimize this barrier for students and their families.
The joint admission agreement sets out a plan that creates a pipeline from STC to UTRGV for students, who are not yet eligible for admission to the university, to first attend STC and earn college credits, while developing the academic skills necessary for admission to UTRGV.
In addition, it lays out a one admission application to both institutions for students who decide to begin their educational journey at STC and later transfer to UTRGV – it is guaranteed admission to the university if a student successfully completes their courses at the college.
While at STC, students participating in the joint admission program will be required to meet college readiness standards by earning 30-60 credit hours, maintaining a 2.0 GPA and attending a UTRGV orientation for their intended transfer term.
The agreement also outlines the responsibilities of STC and UTRGV to share student data in compliance with the protocols and policies of both institutions and relevant laws.
UTRGV President Guy Bailey, Ph.D., said this agreement has been years in the making and the pathway and pipeline it’s creating for students of the region and will help both institutions have an even greater impact on its students and their families.
“At UTRGV, we have a commitment, and that is to student access and student success,” said Bailey. “This is another step in our commitment to our students and our region. The impact of this agreement will carry on for decades to come. We have a great relationship with STC and now this agreement takes us to another level in our partnership all for our students. The success of STC, UTRGV and our students are now linked for duration, and we expect this to continue for years to come. It’s a great day for the RGV, we will be a better place.”
For Aissa Rodriguez, an STC and UTRGV alumna, and now STC 2 RGV Transfer Outreach Representative, this joint admission agreement means students are going to get the best of both worlds.
“I started at STC because I knew I wanted to start my educational journey somewhere where I felt comfortable and supported, and being part of the STC student body shaped me into the person I am today,” said Rodriguez. “STC prepared me and allowed me the confidence to start strong at UTRGV. The ability to transfer more than 40 credit hours from STC to UTRGV really opened the doors for me to walk across the commencement stage as a UTRGV Vaquero.”
She added, that because she witnessed firsthand the connection between both institutions, she is ready, more than ever, to help others, in her similar situation, complete their degrees and become successful individuals that will serve the RGV community.
“This admission agreement will be the steppingstone to success for all of our students and our community,” she said. “We’re committed to making sure that the students we help can achieve their goals and complete their degrees. Thank you to all who are contributing to the implementation and future success of this agreement.”
For more information on the STC 2 UTRGV program, call STC at 1-855-GoToSTC.
