Photo caption: SMCC President Ron Cantor (left) and USM President Glenn Cummings sign a series of new transfer agreements that simplify and streamline the transfer path between selected academic programs at SMCC and corresponding programs USM.
The Presidents of Southern Maine Community College and the University of Southern Maine announced today they have forged an even stronger partnership to benefit students at both institutions. Highlighting a series of new initiatives is Connected Pathways, which will allow SMCC students in selected programs to seamlessly transfer to USM without applying after receiving their associate degree.
“Nothing is more important than student success,” SMCC President Ron Cantor said Thursday at a signing ceremony at SMCC. “These are the latest uniquely student success-focused ventures that SMCC and USM have worked on together to support our students and ensure their success from start to finish.”
The two institutions have approved 11 new transfer agreements between selected SMCC academic programs and complementary programs at USM, removing hurdles and paperwork for students and ensuring a streamlined and seamless transfer path that will save them time and money.
The new transfer agreements — known as “articulation agreements” — are grouped together under a newly created program called Connected Pathways that establishes a structure assuring that eligible graduates from selected SMCC programs are granted admission at junior-year status into complementary programs at USM.
“Over the past few years, USM and SMCC have been working in close partnership to make sure SMCC graduates not only find a place at USM to earn their bachelor’s degree, but that they are well-supported along the way,” said USM President Glenn Cummings. “These new articulation agreements and the Connected Pathways admission program take our partnership to a whole new level, allowing many SMCC graduates to enroll at USM without even having to apply.”
“We are so excited about the impact of the Connected Pathways program to help associate degree holders earn their bachelor’s degree,” Cummings added, “that we’ve expanded the program to students at Central Maine Community College (CMCC) and York County Community College (YCCC).”
USM has entered into 10 new articulation agreements with CMCC, and two new articulation agreements with YCCC, that will enable students in selected academic programs at those colleges to participate in the Connected Pathways program.
In a separate initiative, SMCC and USM have enhanced their respective hospitality programs by sharing for the first time a full-time faculty position that provides services to students at both schools. The partnership benefits students in SMCC’s Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts programs and in USM’s Tourism and Hospitality program.
Under the new Hospitality Management arrangement, the two schools have hired Maureen LaSalle to teach courses at both SMCC and USM while providing advising services to SMCC students who are transferring to USM’s Tourism and Hospitality department. She will also work collaboratively with the hospitality industry to enhance hospitality education in southern Maine.
The new initiatives are the latest examples of SMCC and USM working in partnership in support of student success.
The institutions last year received more than $2 million between them in federal TRIO Student Support Services funds to support an intensive student success program ensuring that low-income, first-generation college-goers graduate and succeed.
They have also worked jointly on programs to help Maine’s immigrant population navigate the college application and financial aid process, and to prepare incoming first-year students for the transition from high school to college.
“SMCC and USM are committed to student success,” said Cantor. “It is clear that we must work together to help students succeed whether they are first coming to college, entering the workforce or continuing their education.”