Lamar University and Lamar Institute of Technology are working together to expand opportunities for students to successfully transfer from two-year programs at LIT into bachelor’s degree programs at Lamar University.

Joining in recognizing the new transfer agreements were outgoing LIT President Paul Szuch, Dan Wright, vice president of academic affairs, Melissa Armetor, dean of instruction, and, representing LU, Deidra Mayer, interim senior director of the Office of Student Recruitment, and James Marquart, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

“We are excited to highlight our continuing partnership with Lamar Institute of Technology,” Marquart said. “Lamar University admits qualified LIT students looking to transfer in our programs. Our existing partnerships will be significantly strengthened through the creation of additional pathways. Doing so will help students more easily transition from LIT to Lamar University.”

Current “2+2” agreements exist for a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, and Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing. LIT offers programs leading to Associates of Arts and Associates of Science degrees that could prove a good pathway to a number of Lamar University’s bachelor’s degree programs, Mayer said.

LIT offers six AA/AS degrees: Associate of Art in General Studies, Associate of Arts in Business, Associate of Science in Criminal Justice, Associate of Science in Biological Sciences, Associate of Science in Mathematics, and the Associate of Science in Computer Information Systems.

Each of these degree programs include 42 general education credit hours identified and certified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as part of LIT’s core curriculum which is eligible for block transfer to any four-year public higher education institution in Texas. The remaining 18 credit hours in each associate degree program consists of courses listed in the Coordinating Board’s Academic Course Guide Manual. All of these courses meet Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) guidelines for academic credit.

“The flexibility of our core curriculum course allows students to choose courses to facilitate transfer into nursing, business, criminal justice, biology, engineering and computer science,” Armentor said. “These 2 + 2 agreements will enable students to complete the first two years of the four year degree at LIT and then transfer to Lamar University to complete the bachelor’s degree.”

Academic leaders of the two institutions will explore other areas where 2+2 agreements could prove beneficial to students.

Lamar University and Lamar Institute of Technology are members of the Texas State University System and are accredited SACS. While LIT originated within LU as a source of associate degrees and vocational training, it eventually became a separate institution and was granted full accreditation by SACS in December 2000.