(Stephenville)—Tarleton State University has teamed with Hill College to better meet the educational needs of students in the region. Tarleton President Dr. Dennis P. McCabe and Hill College President Dr. Sheryl Smith Kappus signed an agreement on August 25 designed to improve and expand the educational opportunities in their common service areas.
“Tarleton and Hill College have enjoyed a long and successful working relationship when it comes to providing access to higher education for the students in our region,” said Dr. McCabe. “We have been good partners in the past and this new agreement brings our commitment to a new level.”
Designated as a “Top Academic Partner,” Hill College ranks among the top four community colleges in sending transfer students to Tarleton. “We are proud of our students in the Hill College system,” said Dr. Kappus. “Partnerships such as the one we have with Tarleton, provide our students with the opportunity to stay in Central Texas and finish a bachelor''s degree.”
The agreement allows Hill College students to apply for joint admission to the Stephenville-based University and receive university credit for their work at Hill College. It will also enhances the chances of students making a seamless transition between the two institutions. Hill College has an enrollment of 3300 students at campuses in Hillsboro, Clifton, Glen Rose, Cleburne and Burleson.
“The role of the university is changing and if an institution of higher education is to continue to be successful, its administrators must be responsive to the needs of the public,” said Dr. McCabe. “University campuses are no longer limited to 18 to 20 year olds and there is a growing number of students who are interested in continuing their educations but for any number of reasons cannot or will not come leave their communities and travel to distant campuses.”
Among the items listed in the agreement signed by McCabe and Kappus on the Hill College campus in Cleburne this week are dual admission requirements which allows a student to enroll in both institutions at the same time; Program Specific Agreements which maximize the amount of academic course work completed on an associate degree to be applied to a baccalaureate degree; and the Texas Two Step agreement which facilities the articulation and transfer of a block of technical courses from the associate degree plan to the baccalaureate.
Other provisions insure successful transfer of course work from Hill College to Tarleton and from Tarleton to Hill College when necessary to complete the associate degree. Both institutions agree to explore the possibilities of on-line courses, ITV courses, and on-site classes taught by Tarleton faculty on Hill College campuses.
Hill College students who enroll concurrently at Tarleton will have a Tarleton ID card, student access to Texan and TexAnn sporting events, a Tarleton email account and use of the Dick Smith Library and University computer facilities.
Kappus has been pursuing joint agreements with four-year institutions in the Central Texas region. Tarleton is one of four universities to collaborate with Hill College; previous agreements have been signed with Stephen F. Austin, Texas Wesleyan University and Sam Houston State.