Texas A&M International University

TAMIU-LCC Ink Accord
for Joint Student Admissions

Some ink, paper and shared concerns for student success have yielded a new agreement between Laredo Community College (LCC) and Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) to enable LCC students to enjoy simultaneous joint admission to TAMIU.

Officials appropriately gathered Thursday at TAMIU’s University Success Center to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that guides a joint admissions program between the two schools.

Dr. Ray Keck, TAMIU president, said the accord signals a new day for the institutions' shared commitment and vision for higher education here.

In Accord Texas A&M International University and Laredo Community College officials met Thursday to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that enables LCC students to be simultaneously admitted to TAMIU. The agreement underscores a shared commitment to higher education and paves the way for future opportunities for mutually beneficial initiatives. Pictured front, left to right, are Dr. Juan L. Maldonado, president, LCC and Dr. Ray M. Keck, president, TAMIU. At back, left to right, Dr. Pablo Arenaz, TAMIU provost and vice president for academic affairs; Dr. Dianna Miller, LCC vice president for instruction; Dr. Minita Ramirez, TAMIU vice president for Student Success and Dr. Vincent R. Solis, LCC vice president for student services.

"This codifies our shared commitment to higher education here, entitling qualified students to joint admission to both LCC and TAMIU. Students can alternate enrollment between institutions or co-enroll as they choose.  Once a student meets TAMIU’s entrance requirements at LCC, they will become eligible for joint admission.  In these times of economic challenges, this further underscores our joint desire to keep higher education accessible and affordable, " Dr. Keck said.

Dr. Juan Maldonado, LCC president, concurred, noting that the agreement also lays a mutual foundation for the creation of extensive articulation agreements in a broad range of majors.

"This agreement can lead to a variety of strategic agreements that will be made available to LCC and TAMIU students. It is truly exciting to engage in a win-win situation where students from TAMIU and LCC will be the benefactors of a joint admissions program that will benefit the two institutions and the students who join the program," Dr. Maldonado explained.

"This agreement exemplifies the commitment and vision that LCC and TAMIU share to make higher education as seamless as possible in our respective service areas," said Dr. Pablo Arenaz, TAMIU provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Dr. Dianna Miller, LCC vice president for instruction, said the agreement also allows the transfer of course credits from TAMIU to LCC to satisfy degree requirements for the associate’s degree.

"This agreement will offer students a valuable benefit in their pursuit of a higher education by allowing them to get a solid foundation at LCC to earn an associate’s degree before or after advancing to TAMIU by reverse course transfer after meeting all course requirements," Dr. Miller said.

The agreement also indicates that TAMIU will provide LCC with information on LCC transfer students to help LCC identify students who meet qualifications for an associate degree and will continue to maintain and staff an admissions office at LCC’s Fort McIntosh campus for TAMIU degree planning assistance.

The agreement indicates that LCC will ensure that students are in compliance with Texas Success Initiative (TSI requirements) and provide TAMIU with an electronic file of all enrolled students’ directory information to facilitate the transfer process.

For additional information, contact Dr. Minita Ramirez, TAMIU vice president for Student Success at 326.2240 or Dr. Vincent Solis, LCC vice president for Student Services, at 764.5950.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu