2+2 = a business degree in latest SLCC, UL Lafayette partnership

South Louisiana Community College and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette are in business – in more ways than one.

Representatives from the two institutions signed an agreement Tuesday that will enable SLCC graduates to apply course credits they earned at the community college toward a bachelor’s degree from UL Lafayette’s B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.

The 2+2 agreement will take effect in the Fall 2017 semester. Under the plan, students complete 60 credit hours during a two-year tenure at SLCC and earn an associate degree. Those credits then transfer to UL Lafayette, where the student accrues another 60 hours over the remaining two-year period to earn a bachelor’s degree, which requires a minimum 120 hours to complete.

Dr. Natalie Harder, SLCC chancellor, and Dr. Robert McKinney, UL Lafayette assistant vice president for Faculty Affairs, signed the agreement on behalf of each institution.

Also present from the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration were Dr. Gwen Fontenot, interim dean, Dr. Lise Anne Slatten, interim associate dean for Academic Programs, and Dr. J. Bret Becton, incoming dean. Representing SLCC were Dr. Vincent June, vice chancellor for Student Services and interim vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, and Sam Harb, dean of Business, Information Technology and Workforce.

UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie was unable to attend the ceremony, but said last week that the partnership eases the transition to the University for SLCC students.

“Agreements such as these provide a way for students to move to a four-year institution without losing the course credits they earned at the community college. We are proud to strengthen our already strong collaboration with SLCC and look forward to more agreements such as this in the future,” Savoie said.

Past 2+2 agreements have enabled SLCC graduates to pursue bachelor’s degrees in environmental science and informatics from UL Lafayette’s Ray P. Authement College of Sciences.

Harder said the latest collaboration is “what our region needs to stay economically competitive. Being able to complete two years with SLCC and then transfer to UL Lafayette to complete a business degree in four years saves students money and ensures that area businesses have well-trained graduates as quickly as possible.”

Fontenot said the agreement “creates a pathway for students to earn a bachelor’s degree while connecting UL Lafayette with other educational institutions. Our partnership with SLCC is strong and today’s 2+2 agreement reinforces it.”

Harb characterized the collaboration as “a win-win for both our institutions, students and community. It provides a seamless transition for our students in an efficient manner.”

The classes students take at SLCC will include general education courses such as math, English and history.

Once enrolled at UL Lafayette, students can focus on one of eight majors the Moody College offers: accounting, management, finance, insurance and risk management, economics, hospitality management, marketing, or professional land and resource management.

For more information, call SLCC’s admissions office at (337) 521-9622 or visit www.solacc.edu/admissions.

Photo: Dr. Natalie Harder, South Louisiana Community College chancellor, and Dr. Robert McKinney, UL Lafayette assistant vice president for Faculty Affairs, sign the 2+2 agreement during ceremonies held Tuesday at SLCC’s Lafayette campus. Standing are Sam Harb, SLCC's dean of Business, Information Technology and workforce, and Dr. Gwen Fontenot, interim dean of UL Lafayette's B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. (Photo courtesy of South Louisiana Community College).