PASADENA, Texas – Through articulation agreements with many Texas colleges and universities, San Jacinto College strives to make the transfer to four-year colleges and universities a smooth transition.

Representatives from Texas A&M, Sam Houston State University, University of Texas at Dallas, and other four-year Texas colleges and universities visited San Jacinto College during Transfer Day activities recently held at all three San Jac campuses.

The articulation agreements are transfer partnerships that, in some cases, guarantee admission for San Jac students who meet the requirements.

Some of San Jacinto College’s articulation partners include Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Galveston, Sam Houston State University, University of Houston-College of Technology, Texas Woman’s University, University of Texas Health Science Center, University of Texas Medical Branch, University of Texas-Dallas, and the online Capella University. San Jac also recently signed a concurrent enrollment agreement with the University of Houston Air Force ROTC program that provides scholarship money to students majoring in technical degrees, such as engineering.

San Jacinto College counselors can customize course schedules for students who are interested in furthering their education through any of the articulation agreements. However, students should state up front their intentions to transfer to one of the four-year colleges so that the appropriate course schedule is devised.

Dr. Catherine O’Brien, dean of teaching and learning at San Jacinto College, oversees the college’s articulation agreements. O’Brien says the articulation agreements can greatly benefit students at a critical juncture in their lives. “Students, even those who are successful at community colleges, sometimes get lost as they transfer to colleges and universities,” commented O’Brien. “With the articulation agreements and that guarantee of transfer, the process is smoother.”

San Jacinto College has guaranteed admission agreements with Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Galveston, and Sam Houston State University, provided minimum requirements are met. The “Comet Connection” agreement with the University of Texas-Dallas provides students with a fixed tuition rate for four years upon transfer from San Jac. Other agreements are on a space-available basis and vary in requirements.

San Jacinto College graduates who hold an associate degree, as well as current faculty and staff interested in pursuing their education online through Capella University will receive an application fee waiver and a 10 percent discount.

Reverse transfer is also available for students who desire to complete their associate degree while simultaneously attending university classes. Reverse transfer is available through Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Galveston and Sam Houston State University.

Unlike academic transfer students, students who enroll and graduate from technical programs often have difficulty finding institutions that will accept their technical courses.  O’Brien noted that articulation agreements help address that issue. “With the articulation agreement between the University of Houston College of Technology and San Jacinto College, for example, technical graduates can transfer from 65 different programs,” she remarked. “This enables a student with a technical degree in cosmetology, pharmacy technician or automotive collision repair to move towards a bachelor’s degree. The student can use their technical expertise together with supervisory and leadership skills from the university to move into managerial positions. That’s a win-win situation.”

Through the articulation agreement with UH-College of Technology, San Jac students who complete an Associate of Applied Science degree in one of 65 approved technical programs, and maintain a grade of “C” or better, can transfer from any San Jac campus to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Technology Leadership and Supervision. This agreement is a pathway to a bachelor’s degree in many technical areas that hasn’t been available in the past.

For those students interested in nursing as a career, San Jacinto College has articulation agreements with Texas Woman’s University and the University of Texas Medical Branch for students who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing.