~Agreement guarantees admission for two-year college honors students~

(left to right) Dr. Monty Sullivan, President, LCTCS, Timothy W. Hardy, Board Chair, LCTCS, John Bel Edwards, Governor of Louisiana, Dr. Leon R. Tarver, Chairman, SUS, Dr. Ray L. Belton, President-Chancellor, SUS

Baton Rouge, La. - Today, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) and the Southern University System (SUS) announced the LCTCS/SUS Pathway Scholarship, an annual transfer scholarship worth up to $1,500 annually for active Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society student members who wish to transfer to either Southern University Baton Rouge (SUBR) or Southern University New Orleans (SUNO) upon completion of an associate's degree at an LCTCS college.  Students who meet the LCTCS/SUS Pathway Scholarship Transfer guidelines will be guaranteed admission to SUBR or SUNO after completing an application to the college. The announcement was made during a signing ceremony at the Louisiana State Capitol with Governor John Bel Edwards, SUS President Ray Belton and LCTCS President Monty Sullivan.  SUS 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's announcement is one of the most important transfer agreements in our state's history," said Monty Sullivan, president, LCTCS. "Like ours, the Southern University mission is critical to Louisiana's success.  This pathway scholarship ensures that our best and brightest will have a seamless onramp to Southern University.  Regardless of where you attend college in our system, you can achieve the dream of attending Southern University.  Thanks to Chairman Tarver, the Southern University System Board of Supervisors, and Dr. Ray Belton for recognizing the value of transfer students and working with us to provide this tremendous opportunity." Last academic year (15:16), the LCTCS had more than 15,800 students transfer to public and private four-year institutions across the country. Of that number, 747 students transferred to either SUBR or SUNO. "We are indeed excited to partner with LCTCS to establish this meaningful agreement that gives promising LCTCS students the privilege and support to pursue further study to earn a bachelor's degree at Southern University," said Dr. Ray Belton, president-chancellor, SUS. "Southern University wholeheartedly welcomes these high-achieving transfer students and remains committed to our mission of providing access and opportunity for all of our students." Students who are PTK graduates can receive the annual scholarship, contingent on the availability of funds, renewable for up to one year, to SUBR or SUNO upon meeting the following criteria:

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

LCTCS and SUS 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 SUS seek to remove economic obstacles that prevent students who are active PTK Honor Society members from transferring to SUBR or SUNO upon completion of an associate's degree. The LCTCS/SUS Pathway Scholarship formally recognizes that through increased transfer opportunities, the LCTCS and SUS are collaboratively providing more ways than ever before for students to pursue their higher education dreams.  The LCTCS/SUS Pathway Scholarship will assist the LCTCS in quadrupling transfer students, a goal of Our Louisiana 2020, and will assist SUS in recruiting exceptional academic students, a goal of A Pathway Forward. 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.