Baton Rouge, La. - Today, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) and LSU announced the LSU/LCTCS Honors Promise, a transfer scholarship worth up to $3,000 annually for active Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society student members who wish to transfer to LSU upon completion of an associate's degree at an LCTCS college.  Students who meet the LSU/LCTCS Honors Promise Transfer Scholarship guidelines will be guaranteed admission to LSU after completing an application to the college. The announcement was made during a signing ceremony at the Louisiana State Capitol with LSU President F. King Alexander and LCTCS President Monty Sullivan.  LSU will provide the scholarships to active PTK graduates who meet certain guidelines on a first-come, first-served basis until available funds are committed. "Today our state's flagship university is making a public commitment to students from across Louisiana.  If you attend one of Louisiana's two-year colleges and perform academically, you are guaranteed both admissions and a scholarship to attend LSU," said Monty Sullivan, president, LCTCS. "Thanks to the LSU Board of Supervisors and King Alexander for recognizing the value of transfer students and working with us to provide this tremendous opportunity for our students." Last academic year (14:15), the LCTCS had more than 12,600 students transfer to public and private four year institutions across the country. Of that number, 1,395 students transferred to LSU. "We are proud to partner with LCTCS by offering the Honors Promise Transfer Scholarship to Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society graduates from Louisiana's two-year colleges," said LSU President F. King Alexander. "In Louisiana, the demand for employees with postsecondary credentials will continue to increase in the coming years, with the need for those with bachelor's degrees growing exponentially. These students now have a clear path toward continuing their education and completing a four-year degree from LSU." Students who are PTK graduates can receive the annual scholarship, contingent on the availability of funds, renewable for up to one year, to LSU upon meeting the following criteria:

• Student must have completed an associate's degree no earlier than Fall 2015,
• Student must be active PTK member at the time of graduation,
• Student must have completed a FASFA,
• Student must have applied to LSU,
• Student must enroll full-time at LSU the semester following their completion of an associate's degree,
• Student must maintain full-time enrollment (for scholarship renewal), and
• Student must be in good academic standing while enrolled at LSU (for renewal).

LCTCS and LSU are committed to providing more transfer opportunities to those Louisiana citizens who want to pursue a bachelor's degree after completion of an associate's degree at an LCTCS college.  The LCTCS and LSU seek to remove economic obstacles that prevent students who are active PTK Honor Society members from transferring to LSU upon completion of an associate's degree. The LSU/LCTCS Honors Promise formally recognizes that through increased transfer opportunities, the LCTCS and LSU are collaboratively providing more ways than ever before for students to pursue their higher education dreams.  The LSU/LCTCS Honors Promise will assist the LCTCS in quadrupling transfer students, a goal of Our Louisiana 2020, and will assist LSU in recruiting exceptional academic students. The mission of PTK is to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in honors, leadership, service and fellowship programming.