(Photo credit: David Campbell/ASU) – Jefferson State President Keith Brown (L) and Dr. Quinton Ross, Jr. sign an agreement to benefit students.
Jefferson State Community College President Keith Brown and Alabama State University President Dr. Quinton Ross, Jr. signed an agreement on March 3, 2020 to provide a collaborative transfer process for Jefferson State students, who meet identified criteria, into Alabama State University for the completion of their bachelor’s degree.
Agreement Components
Component 1: A Collaborative and Seamless Transfer Process
ASU and JSCC mutually agree upon a collaborative and seamless transfer process that ensures the transfer of academic courses/credits, and ongoing collaborative campus advising. Subject to the terms of this agreement, a student who has earned an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science and possesses a minimum cumulative grade point average of a “C”, 2.0 from JSCC, may be eligible for admissions to ASU with up to a maximum of 64 semester hours transferring. This collaboration begins with JSCC enrollment and continues until students become alumni at both JSCC and ASU.
1.1 ASU and JSCC agree on the items below to ensure a seamless transition for students entering ASU.
a. ASU guarantees admissions with up to 64 JSCC transferable credits for students who meet the following criteria:
i. Students must possess at least a “C” in both English Composition I and Composition II courses.
ii. Students must possess a minimum GPA of 2.0 in their core curriculum.
iii. Students must possess a minimum cumulative over GPA of 2.0.
iv. Students must be in good standing.
v. Students must complete an ASU Transfer application for admissions.
vi. Courses completed after January 1, 2014 will be considered for transfer.
b. All students participating in the ASU/JSCC transfer agreement, will have their application fee waived.
c. ASU and JSCC academic advisors will collaborate to ensure that all JSCC students who plan to transfer to ASU receive ongoing academic advising during the students’ tenure at JSCC. ASU academic advisors will visit JSCC on widely-advertised dates/times and will invite JSCC students and families to visit the campus of ASU for additional advisement, information, support, and engagement. ASU and JSCC advisors will establish dates for ASU advisors to meet with students prior to their transferring to ASU. During these advising sessions, students will be made aware of other academic support services including the ASU Academic Center for Educational Success (ACES), the Levi Watkins Learning Center, and others. Furthermore, ASU advising will be major specific, but it will not be “major-binding.” Students will have the option of changing majors and receiving advising for the new major.
d. When course catalog/program/academic/institutional policy changes occur at either institution or when these changes impact students participating in this collaboration, academic officers of the respective campus will immediately communicate such changes with the other campus. If and when conflicts of any nature occur within this context of change, then both parties will exhaust every effort to resolve such conflicts, whether they revolve around a collective impact on students or around isolated cases.
(Photo credit: David Campbell/ASU) – Jefferson State President Keith Brown (L) and ASU President Dr. Quinton Ross, Jr. signed an agreement on March 3 to ensure a seamless transfer process for students.
e. JSCC and ASU agree to promote this program and encourage qualified students to participate.
f. This MOU is contingent upon both institutions’ ability to maintain program approvals by ACHE and SACSCOC accreditation.
Component 2: Scholarship Eligibility
In order to assist and attract capable transfer students, a limited number of annual scholarships are established between ASU and JSCC.
2.1 A minimum of 2 JSCC Transfer Tuition Scholarships will be awarded each year to new ASU students who meet the following criteria and apply for Fall admissions merit-based scholarships by February 1st of the previous academic year;
a. Transfer from JSCC upon completion of their Associates Degree in Arts or Sciences
b. Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher with at least 24 credit hours
2.2 Each of the scholarships may be renewed annually up to 6 semesters provided that the recipient meets, maintains, and agrees to the following criteria:
a. Maintains a 3.0 cumulative GPA per academic year
b. Maintains full-time enrollment with a minimum of 24 semester hours completed (excluding summer)
2.3 ASU’s Office of Enrollment Management will provide special recognition for all scholarship recipients annually.
2.4 An annual report shall be provided to JSCC by the ASU Office of Enrollment Management. This report shall include the names of the scholarship recipients and other pertinent information.
Component 3: Reverse Transfer Credit
An associates degree is an important milestone in a student’s education as well as a valuable credential on a resume. Reverse transfer is for students who transferred to ASU before earning their associates degree. In conjunction with the National Clearinghouse, the reverse transfer statewide initiative allows students to earn an associate degree after they have transferred to a four-year institution. The National Student Clearinghouse platform will allow for a secure exchange of student course and grade data from ASU to JSCC. There will be no time limit on students to complete the associate degree through the Alabama Community College Reverse Transfer Agreement process. Students will remain in the program as long as they are continuously enrolled at ASU.
This agreement is designed to allow these students to transfer credits earned at ASU to JSCC through an articulation agreement and provide them the opportunity to complete their community college (associate) degree.
Students will be eligible for reverse transfer when they have met the following criteria:
a. Have transferred from JSCC to ASU.
b. Have earned at least 16 semester credit hours from JSCC.
c. Have earned at least 3 semester credit hours from ASU.
d. Are in good standing at both JSCC and ASU.
Component 4: Student Services
By offering these services, ASU provides an opportunity for currently enrolled JSCC’s students to become a part of the ASU campus community prior to transferring. Student Services are available during the Fall and Spring semesters prior to enrollment only after the student has indicated an intent to enroll at ASU for the subsequent Fall semester. The intent to enroll will be completed during the academic advisement for JSCC’s students. Further, this provides JSCC’s students the opportunity to foster meaningful relationships with ASU students, faculty, and staff. ASU agree to provide the following services to JSCC’s students while they are enrolled at JSCC:
4.1 Carter Hill Road Workout Center Usage: JSCC’s students will be able to access the Carter Hill Road Workout Facility
a. Payment of a $25.00 ASU Limited Access ID Card to ASU
4.2 Athletic Events: ASU agrees to allow currently enrolled JSCC’s students access to attend athletic events held on ASU’s campus. Students must present both their JSCC and Limited Access ASU issued ID to be granted admissions.
4.3 Levi Watkins Learning Center: Reciprocal library privileges for students, faculty, and staff including borrowing of materials, reference services, and other library facilities; such as group or individual study rooms. Students, faculty, and staff must abide by the policies and guidelines as posted in the Levi Watkins Learning Center.
a. A valid ASU Limited Access ID Card and JSCC validated ID card must be presented when materials are checked out.
b. Individual patrons are responsible for all materials borrowed from the lending library. Loan periods and fines for all borrowers are all the same as the lending library. The library of the institution in which the borrower is enrolled will assist lending library to recover materials.
c. The use of library owned databases are restricted due to contract agreement between the library and the database vendors.
d. Reference services will include use of library catalog, assistance with AVL and other general reference services.
e. Inter-library loan services will not be offered from either the lending or borrowing library.
f. Lending library has the right to revoke library privileges to individual who violate any rules and regulations.
4.4 Transfer Orientation: ASU’s Office of Enrollment Management will host a Transfer Orientation once a year for new transfer students. During the orientation, new transfer students will hear testimonies from current transfer students, learn about academic support areas on campus, gain opportunities for campus involvement, and more.
4.5 Career Services: All students enrolled at JSCC who have completed the intent to enroll and have purchased the Limited Access ASU ID Card, will be allowed to use the ASU Career Development Center for career counseling, resume writing, and interview coaching. JSCC’s students will also be able to utilize the career interest inventory software available in the ASU Career Center.
