TAMU-T and TC form transfer pathway agreement
TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M University-texarkana and Texarkana College formed an agreement to streamline the transferring process for students.
Held at TC’S James Henry Russell STEM Complex on Monday, TC President Dr. Jason Smith and TAMU-T President Dr. Ross Alexander both spoke of the joint importance the articulation agreement has for both schools.
“What this pathways partnership will do for our students is help our students once they get through- get them to A&m-texarkana without losing as many credits because when they waste credits, it’s also wasting hours and money,” Smith said. “Most of our students can’t afford that and that hurts those students.”
Smith said it had been an incredible journey working with Alexander because “when we talk about things, things get done.”
“It all boils down to making pathways more seamless and easier for our fine transfer students,” Alexander said.
Alexander cited his own time as a student trying to transfer to another school, saying he “had some difficulty navigating the entire process.”
“The hard work that went into crafting these articulation pathways make it easier for our transfer students to achieve Baccalaureate attainment with an easier pathway, but also less cost, saving them time and saving them money,” Alexander said.
TAMU-T’S Coordinator of Community College Pathways and Articulation, Ken Lamartiniere, said the schools have alignment in approximately 10 areas in the business program.
“For students that are pursuing a bachelors in business administration, there are a number of concentrations that fall under that particular program area, everything ranging from entrepreneurship or accounting, all the way through supply chain management,” Lamartiniere said.
The coordinator said the pathways agreement has also crafted alignment for the criminal justice program and education program.
“For students that are looking to go into the teaching field, they can start their associates degree in teaching here and then transfer into the bachelors program for education,” Lamartiniere said.
Lamartiniere said the articulation agreement pathways would continue to expand over time and would soon likely include the nursing program. He also said TAMU-T is in discussions with other area community colleges to create opportunities for students in other programs.