Representatives from San Jacinto College and University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) signed an articulation agreement at the San Jacinto College Board of Trustees meeting on Aug. 6 that will continue and enhance both institutions’ efforts to provide seamless transfer and completion pathways
for students through transfer degree maps and processes, data sharing, joint admissions and cooperative advising.

The existing agreement allows San Jacinto College students to transfer into baccalaureate degree programs of their choice at UHD with minimum loss of credit hours in the student’s individual transfer degree plan. Cooperative advising will allow San Jacinto students to be advised on degree maps and possible career opportunities in their field of interest and major.

The agreement also provides degree completion through reverse articulation, meaning that a San Jacinto College student who transfers to UHD before completing their associate degree can still earn their credential based on the course credits they complete at UHD that fulfill the missing course requirements for the associate degree.

“San Jacinto College has always maintained a valuable partnership with UHD that ensures our transfer students continue to succeed in pursuing their bachelor’s and graduate degrees,” said Dr. Laurel Williamson, San Jacinto College deputy chancellor and president. “By expanding this partnership, we will be able to serve our students who intend to transfer to UHD more effectively through data-informed decisions and educational planning. We will continue to work with UHD to ensure that we eliminate barriers to the transfer and degree completion process.”

The San Jacinto College-UHD transfer partnership is also a part of the Houston Guided Pathways to Success (Houston GPS) initiative and fulfills the goals of the 60x30TX plan of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, whose overall goal is to have at least 60 percent of Texans ages 25 – 34 complete a technical certificate or degree by 2030. Led by the University of Houston, Houston GPS includes Houston and Gulf Coast area institutions working together to create an integrated system of cohesive, interdependent strategies designed to increase and accelerate student completion and a smooth two-year to four-year college transfer process while improving educational quality for Houston-area students, ultimately saving students time and money.

One of the new enhancements to the transfer agreement involves data sharing between the institutions. Information includes general demographics of students interested in transfer and those who do transfer to UHD, course and degree completion information, and GPAs of San Jacinto College transfer students. Both institutions will also share information about the transfer agreement requirements, scholarship, and financial aid opportunities.

Another new enhancement to the transfer partnership between San Jacinto College and UHD will be the implementation of additional transfer benefits to San Jacinto College Honors and early college high school students. Under the transfer agreement, students in the College’s Honors program will now be accepted to the UHD Honors program within a respective school or college provided the student meets its GPA requirements upon transfer. San Jacinto College early college high school students will also see benefits through transfer advising assistance with UHD advising staff throughout the student’s transition. Scholarship opportunities will also be identified for early college high school students who have completed an associate degree at San Jacinto College, enabling them to complete a bachelor’s degree at UHD within three years after transfer. Furthermore students can reap the benefits of services and study abroad opportunities through joint and/or co-enrollment admissions.

“Student success is at the heart of UHD’s partnership with San Jacinto College,” said UHD President, Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz. “Working together, both institutions can help students achieve their academic goals without significant debt or excess credit hours. Each year, a substantial number of San Jacinto College transfers arrive at our university to complete their undergraduate degrees. Through this agreement, and others like it, I look forward to welcoming more of these exceptional students to our institution and helping them finish UHD strong.”