On January 22, college leaders signed a pre-admission agreement between Collin College and Austin College. Pictured are (from left) Collin College president Cary Israel, Collin College chair J. Robert Collins, Collin College vice chair Brenda Goodell, Austin College president Oscar C. Page and Austin College vice chair Richard J. Agnich.

Collin College and Austin College in Sherman signed a special pre-admission agreement for qualified Collin students on January 22. This is the ninth such agreement between Collin College and universities from around the state.

“This is a very exciting project, and Collin College is proud to partner with an institution of Austin College’s caliber,” Dr. J. Robert Collins, chairman of the Collin College Board of Trustees, said. “This partnership presents a new opportunity, a new path for our students to achieve a bachelor’s degree, one of the great accomplishments in one’s educational experience.”

The pre-admission partnerships allow Collin College students to finish their associate degrees while establishing a relationship with the institution at which they plan to complete their bachelor’s degrees. In addition to ensuring credit hours transfer, the partnership provides a number of other perks.

“In 2000, Collin College signed the first pre-admission agreement with the University of North Texas. This was truly groundbreaking, and we had no way of knowing how popular it would be with students,” Cary Israel, Collin College president, said. “These partnerships shorten the time to degree for our students and provide them the tools and skills to succeed in the workforce.”

The agreement with Austin College will allow a student to work closely with an Austin College faculty advisor in the student’s area of academic interest. Collin students will meet with their Austin College faculty advisor once a semester to review course selections and ensure a seamless transfer of credit toward a bachelor’s degree.

According to Oscar C. Page, president of Austin College, “We are pleased to enter a partnership with Collin College.  The quality of programs at Collin is excellent and with this partnership students are provided unique opportunities to develop a relationship with Austin College that will make their transition to the four-year institution seamless.  We are honored to enter into such an agreement with this fine institution.”

Students chosen to participate in the agreement will be privy to special events and visits from Austin College officials and scholarship opportunities. Other perks include an Austin College e-mail account, an Austin College Web hopper account providing the student with access to the college’s online degree audit, an Austin College student ID, an Austin College parking pass, access to Austin College’s library, and access to Austin College lectures, art exhibits, musical and theatrical performances and sporting events.

“Students have many options today, and we are pleased to be working with Collin College because one of the best pools of prospective students is in the community college systems of Texas. These students are well-prepared to continue their education at a residential liberal arts college, and our proximity to the Collin College campuses makes this program beneficial to a large number of students.  To achieve positive transitions, we partner with wonderful counselors,” said Nan Davis, vice president for institutional enrollment for Austin College. 

To be admitted into the program, students must meet with an Austin College faculty advisor and executive director of transfer admission each semester, follow the program of study as recommended by the advisor, maintain a 3.0 grade point average with less than 30 hours or a 2.75 grade point average with more than 30 hours, and be in good academic standing.

Other partnering universities include Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas Tech University, Texas Woman’s University, The University of Texas at Dallas and the University of North Texas.

For more information about the pre-admission program, visit www.transferu.ccccd.edu.

Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located approximately 30 miles north of the greater Dallas metroplex in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter, the 1,300 student residential college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges that Change Lives.