A&M-Texarkana agreement creates pathways for PJC students

Published or Revised June 29, 2017

Paris Junior College and Texas A&M University-Texarkana officials signed a memorandum of understanding, dual admissions agreement, financial aid consortium agreement and articulation agreements today at Paris Junior College, formalizing a partnership benefiting students who wish to attain baccalaureate degrees. The financial aid consortium agreement allows PJC and A&M-Texarkana students to be concurrently enrolled without disruption to their financial aid award. The articulation agreements signed were pathways from the associate of science degree to bachelor's degrees in the following areas: Interdisciplinary Studies, Applied Arts and Sciences and Business Administration. “The partnership between Paris Junior College and A&M-Texarkana fits so perfectly with our Guided Pathways work and provides opportunities for our area residents to have access to baccalaureate degrees close to home,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. “This partnership benefits students and benefits the region by providing these opportunities for our residents.” Maloree Mabry, a senior education major at Texas A&M University-Texarkana from Pattonville, said, “I chose to be a part of this program because it is extremely convienient for those of us at the PJC campus. It ensures that we will not have to drive to Texarkana to complete our coursework by providing the option of ITV classes which still make us feel a part of the class. This program has been great for me, and I highly recommend it to anyone. The farthest distance we have to drive is to Mount Pleasant to complete required course work for the education program. I greatly appreciate all of the student advisors, faculty and staff members for being so helpful. They are always so quick to respond and lead us in the right direction. This is a great program; it has been extremely beneficial for me.” “From the A&M-Texarkana perspective, this is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with Paris Junior College for the benefit of students and the region,” said A&M-Texarkana President Dr. Emily Cutrer. “This type of partnership ensures that our students have a clear path to achieve their higher education goals.” The management of the MOU, DAA, FACA and articulation agreements between the two institutions will be coordinated through both PJC’s and A&M-Texarkana’s registrar offices. The agreement establishes the terms and responsibility of each institution’s role in recruitment and admissions, tuition and fees, student advising, management of student records, and student grievances and conduct. Jennifer Perez will be meeting with prospective A&M-Texarkana students that are PJC graduates at the PJC campus. “Collaborations such as this are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring that the educational needs of our community are being met,” said A&M-Texarkana Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. David Yells. “Clearly identified pathways facilitate successful completion of the educational journeys our students embark on.” For more information about bachelor’s degrees offered by A&M-Texarkana at PJC, contact Shannon Reynolds at Texas A&M University-Texarkana at (903) 434-8357 or Shannon.Reynolds@tamut.edu.