By Amanda May

Lindenwood University recently signed an articulation agreement with the St. Charles Community College (SCC). The goal of this agreement is to provide resources and opportunities to SCC students who are planning to transfer to Lindenwood. These resources and opportunities include new scholarships specifically for SCC transfer students, as well as making credits from SCC transfer more easily to Lindenwood. 

“President Porter suggested the partnership to the SCC president over the summer,” said Terry Whittum, the Senior Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Engagement. “Dr. Arant (the Provost) and I were tasked with working out the details. We started meeting with members of the SCC administration in July and worked through the summer and early fall.” Mr. Whittum went on to detail that he dealt with the financial aid and scholarship side of the articulation agreement. 

Another goal of this partnership is to reach students Lindenwood has previously not been able to reach. Similarly, this partnership seeks to advance enrollment and diversity on campus.  “We would love to see a lot more students from all demographics, because it will enrich the Lindenwood experience,” the provost said. 

The agreement will open the door for future collaboration between the schools. The benefits of this partnership will not only be reaped by prospective Lindenwood students transferring from SCC, but it will also benefit Lindenwood’s academics as well. “        It will give us an opportunity to constantly review our curriculum to make sure it's in line with industry standards possible,” the provost said. “Annually, we will review the articulation agreement to make sure the curriculum is in alignment. So we'll be constantly looking at our programs, constantly reviewing them going forward. This will also give us the opportunity to reach students that we really haven't been able.” Reactions to the agreement have been positive overall. The Provost detailed he has been receiving congratulations from colleagues across the country after he posted an announcement about the agreement on his LinkedIn page. 

“I am very much in favor of growing our partnership with SCC,” Mr. Whittum said. “More students transfer to LU from SCC than any other community college. I’m excited about the articulation agreements and other potential parts of the program such as closer relationships with SCC’s international students and providing doctoral degrees to SCC faculty.” Mr. Whittum also noted that there has already been interest from prospective SCC students.

While still in its nascence, this partnership has opened multiple doors of possibility, for not only the two schools but future partnerships as well.