STC and Texas A&M- Kingsville have formalized a seamless transition for students seeking their four year degrees. Both institutions held a signing ceremony of a 2+2 articulation agreement for engineering, which includes the creation of new programs for environmental engineering, natural gas engineering and chemical engineering.
Texas Border Business –
McAllen, TX – For engineering students, the transition between South Texas College (STC) and Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) has never been easier.
Now, there is a seamless pathway that will allow them to move from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree due in part to a special collaboration almost three years in the making between the two institutions.
STC and TAMUK held a signing ceremony of a 2+2 articulation agreement for engineering. The agreement includes the creation of new programs for environmental engineering, natural gas engineering and chemical engineering.
STC leadership in attendance at the event were Dr. Anahid Petrosian, STC Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ali Esmaeili, Dean of Math and Science, and Bachelor’s Programs.
Representing TAMUK at the event were Dr. Heidi Anderson, TAMUK Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Dr. Stephen Nix, dean and professor at Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
“This is very important because it will be the first time that our students can complete their Bachelor’s Degree in engineering without having to leave the Valley,” Dr. Petrosian said. “The type of assistance they are bringing to our students, making the transition very seamless and providing a lot of support, is very important to our students’ success.”
South Texas College and Texas A&M University-Kingsville, a member of The Texas A&M University System have officially agreed to a mutually beneficial working relationship to meet the educational needs of the students of the Valley.
STC’s Division of Math, Science, and Bachelors Programs and TAMUK’s Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering have signed an articulation agreement that will provide strong support to TAMUK’s Rio Grande Valley Engineering Initiative, and also assists students transferring to their main campus.
Focused efforts will be made to provide clear pathways between institutions for students pursuing careers in engineering and related Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields with little or no loss of academic credits. This will be an ongoing effort providing immediate as well as future, opportunities to create a near seamless transfer between STC and TAMUK engineering or related STEM programs.
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say this the most important part of the state. I think A&M Kingsville has the preeminent engineering college in the state and South Texas College is the best community college,” Dr. Nix said. “I have been to a lot of different states, and I have never seen a college like this one. You should be very proud. I’m proud to be associated with it.”
The agreement outlines five areas of potential cooperative initiatives designed to promote the success of students attending both academic institutions and to facilitate access to higher education in the region including:
- Joint Engineering Admission
- Program/Course mapping
- Reverse Transfer
- Summer Bridge initiative
- Non-Academic Consortium Agreements re: financial aid, libraries, computer labs, etc.
“We have been working with STC for the last two or three years to make a seamless transition from college to the actual university, straight from an associate degree to a four-year degree in Engineering,” said Dr. Oralia De Los Reyes, Director of Operations of TAMUK’s Rio Grande Valley Engineering Initiative.
“Now, we are going to have a 2+2, which is building the tracks for the specific majors we have here in the Valley including chemical, environmental and natural gas,” Dr. De Los Reyes said. “Once they transfer, every single class they take here at STC will be able to transfer for their major at TAMUK.” TBB
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