Jacksonville State University Launches Transfer Pathway Program

02/02/2017

Jacksonville State University is excited to announce the launch of the Transfer Pathway Program, a new initiative that will benefit all community college students in the state of Alabama, the surrounding region, and other states.

The goal of the Transfer Pathway Program is to significantly increase the transferability of students from community colleges throughout the state of Alabama, regionally, and nationally. The pathway model allows students to enroll in specific courses at the community college level that will better prepare them for the major they wish to pursue at JSU. The program addresses recruitment and retention of college-bound students. The initiative will operate as a parallel option, not a substitution, and this will not conflict with the Alabama statewide articulation agreement.

A pilot version of the program is slated to begin in the summer of 2017 at Gadsden State Community College. After the pilot version is evaluated, additional pathway agreements will be added at GSCC.

Faculty members at JSU and GSCC have collaborated to develop five pathway programs that will serve as the pilot experience at GSCC. JSU President Dr. John M. Beehler and GSCC President Dr. Martha Lavender have provided support and resources to ensure the success of the pilot version and the additional agreements that will follow at GSCC.

Dr. Jean M. Pugliese, executive director of the Transfer Pathway Program, stated, “JSU wishes to recruit high quality students from community colleges, and more importantly, JSU wants these students to have a positive experience as they progress and eventually graduate from JSU.”

On March 4, JSU will host its first Transfer Preview Day for potential transfer students, which will be organized by Lauren Thomas Findley, assistant director of admissions, and Mitchell Brock Shelton, admissions advisor. This event will be 10 a.m. until noon on the 12^th floor of the Houston Cole Library. No pre-registration is required. Afterwards, lunch will be provided. For more information on this Transfer Day, please contact Shelton at mbshelton@jsu.edu.

JSU’s Alumni Office has also joined forces with the Transfer Pathway Program to promote its implementation and create interest among potential students in the communities where alumni live and work.

For more information about the Transfer Pathways Program or to schedule a JSU representative to speak to a gathering or conference about the initiative, please contact Dr. Jean Pugliese at pugliese@jsu.edu.