Lone Star College and Prairie View A&M University are partnering to make it easier for students interested in transferring between the two institutions.

“We want to increase the number of students who attend Lone Star College to transfer to Prairie View A&M University,” said Dr. Stephen C. Head, LSC chancellor. “This agreement will help grow that number by providing a clear pathway that will lead to a 4-year degree.”

PVAMU ranks in the top 10 of 4-year institutions where LSC students transferred to in fall 2015.

Through this articulation agreement, LSC students and employees receive a 50 percent discount on PVAMU application fees. Students are also eligible to apply for Direct Connect Scholarship Program scholarships valued up to $5,000 each.

The new partnership also includes cooperative advising which allows a student access to academic advisors at both institutions for the purpose of planning and selecting courses applicable to their degree program and joint admission. The agreement was formalized with a signing ceremony at LSC-CyFair last week.

“Today marks an important day with our community educational partner as we sign a memorandum of understanding,” said Dr. George C. Wright, PVAMU president. “This new enterprise will help streamline the process for students to achieve their higher education goals.”

Prairie View A&M University has been a leader in serving underserved communities and has maintained a strict adherence to its founding principles of teaching, research and service for 140 years. PVAMU is the second oldest public institution of higher education in Texas and has an enrollment of more than 8,000 students, including more than 1,500 graduate students.

“All students should have a pathway to a successful life,” said Dr. Alton Smith, LSCS Board of Trustees member during the ceremony. “I am pleased to see these two fine institutions work together for the betterment of our students.”