Leaders of TJC and Texas A&M-Texarkana signed an agreement Wednesday, to strengthen the collaboration between both institutions and ease the path for students to fulfill their educational goals.
Through the agreement, the institutions will align mutual programs, including: business, criminal justice, history, sociology, education and engineering.
TJC students can complete their associate degree in any of these programs and seamlessly transfer to Texas A&M-Texarkana without losing course credits.
Additionally, the institutions signed an agreement that will enable TJC employees to receive a discount on tuition to further their education at the university.
Texas A&M-Texarkana President and CEO Dr. Ross Alexander said, “We are thankful for this partnership that aligns our two ascendant brands. We both have a great deal of institutional momentum, and we are committed to the success of learners throughout a career and across a lifetime.”
Alexander continued, “Giving efficient pathways to talented students who are juggling work, life, family and educational responsibilities is a sacred commitment of all of ours, and for us to make that just a little bit easier is incredibly exciting.”
TJC President and CEO Dr. Juan E. Mejia said, “Today is another special day for TJC, as through the signing of these articulation agreements we are able to better serve our students who have expressed an interest in the programs offered by Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Student success through seamless transfer and a direct path to the next degree is of paramount importance to us.”
Front, from left, Josh Perrodin, Texas A&M-Texarkana executive director of admissions and recruiting; Dr. Venus Lillis, Texas A&M-Texarkana associate vice president of enrollment and student engagement; Dr. Angela M. Parmentier-Sikorski, Texas A&M-Texarkana assistant provost and professor of psychology; Dr. Melinda Arnold, Texas A&M-Texarkana provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Ross Alexander, Texas A&M-Texarkana president and CEO; Dr. Juan E. Mejia, TJC president and CEO; Dr. Deana Sheppard, TJC provost and vice president for academic and student affairs; Dr. Lee Grimes, TJC associate vice provost for academic affairs; C. Jeanie Oxler, TJC director of school partnerships; second row, Vicki Melde, Texas A&M-Texarkana chief of staff to the president; Ken Lamartiniere, Texas A&M-Texarkana coordinator of community college pathways and articulation; Dr. Craig Nakashian, Texas A&M-Texarkana incoming dean of the Honors College; Dr. Alan Blaylock, Texas A&M-Texarkana associate professor of finance; Dr. Jim Richey, TJC dean of the School of Humanities, Communications and Fine Arts; Brent Wallace, TJC dean of the School of Skilled Trades and Continuing Studies; Dr. Elizabeth Olivier, TJC dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences; Dr. Richard Nichols, TJC dean of TJC North and interim dean of the School of Professional and Technical Programs; and Dr. Cliff Boucher, TJC dean of the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Sciences.
Mejia continued, “We also express our most sincere gratitude to Dr. Alexander for the very generous offer of tuition discounts for our employees who are exploring additional university degrees.”
Texas A&M-Texarkana Provost Dr. Melinda Arnold said, “We find ourselves in this wonderful place where we are able to share any number of pathways and opportunities. We are growing, and we would love nothing more than to welcome TJC students to the Eagle family. TAMUT can be the TJC home away from home, and we are very excited to be forming this partnership with you.”
Dr. Deana Sheppard, TJC provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, said, “As we all know, education is a powerful force in any community, and anything we can do as a two-year institution or community college to help our students take that next step, we want to do that.
“We have the best job in the world: We get to change lives for a living. It couldn’t be any better than that, and it’s exciting that we get to celebrate that with our partners in Texarkana. We’re both in a place of growth and success, and I know that this type of partnership will make that even better for our communities and our students.”