SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin A. Lane and Provost and Dallas College Vice Chancellor of Workforce Education Shawnda Floyd celebrate signing the Saluki Step Ahead agreement between their institutions. (Photo provided)
October 13, 2023
SIU Carbondale, Dallas College sign agreement to improve access for students
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale strengthened its commitment to students in the North Texas region on Oct. 12 with an agreement to bring the expertise of a doctoral research university to qualified Dallas College students by providing the option to earn their bachelor’s degrees remotely and at a lower cost in 12 academic programs.
The two institutions celebrated the agreement for the Saluki Step Ahead program at an event in Dallas. Established in 2021, the program enables students who graduate with an associate degree from partnering community colleges to complete their SIU Carbondale bachelor’s degrees online in accounting, business administration, criminology and criminal justice, early childhood, elementary education, health care management, history, industrial management and applied engineering, information technology, nursing (RN to BSN), psychology and radiologic sciences.
SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin A. Lane said the Saluki Step Ahead agreement fits well with the university’s strategic plan, Imagine 2030, and its pillars of student success and partnerships.
“This agreement is a real game-changer for students who may have limited resources and can’t relocate,” he said. “So many times when community college graduates want to go on to earn their bachelor's degrees, they find that the credit hours they worked so hard to earn don’t transfer with them. I’ve always thought that was unfair. Saluki Step Ahead provides a seamless path to a bachelor's degree, saving students time and money. And if students can’t come to us in Carbondale, Illinois, we are bringing the experience and resources of a doctoral research university to them.”
Dallas College serves Dallas County, which according to U.S. Census data, has a 2.64 million population and is one of the 10 largest counties in the U.S. Founded in 1965, Dallas College consists of seven campuses and is one of the largest community colleges in Texas based on annual enrollment.
“As our workforce and economy evolve, so does the significance of a postsecondary education,” said Dallas College Chancellor Justin Lonon. “Our partnership with SIU Carbondale not only recognizes that shift but also unlocks a new, barrier-free pathway allowing our students access to the education and experience necessary to achieve their career and life dreams.”
Dallas College offers online learning and serves more than 125,000 credit and continuing education students annually, dual credit for students in partner high schools and early college high schools throughout Dallas County, and associate degree and career/technical certificate programs in more than 100 areas of study, as well as a bachelor’s degree in education.
In addition, the agreement between SIU Carbondale and Dallas College will offer transfer scholarships for Dallas College students who transfer to SIU Carbondale outside of programs within Saluki Step Ahead and attend the university in person, said Tania Wittgenfeld, assistant vice chancellor for external relations at SIU Carbondale. Also attending the signing ceremony from SIU Carbondale were Sheryl A. Tucker, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, and Wendell Williams, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management.
Attending the ceremony for Dallas College were Shawnda Floyd, provost and vice chancellor of workforce education; Joe Seabrooks, president of the Cedar Valley campus; Mike Walker, vice provost of the School of Business, Hospitality and Global Trade; Robert DeHaas, vice provost of the School of Education; Catherine Olivarez, associate vice provost; Jermain Pipkins, assistant vice chancellor of student success; Giraud Polite, dean of the School of Creative Arts, Entertainment and Design; Paula Guidry, dean of pathway success; Patrick Vasquez, associate dean of pathway success; Derek Soper, associate dean of career and transfer skills development, and Jessica Stubsjoen, a senior manager.
The Dallas College agreement brings SIU Carbondale to 45 Saluki Step Ahead pacts that the university has with community college campuses in Illinois, Missouri and Texas so far.
Students in the Saluki Step Ahead program pay the community college rate for their first two years. In the third and fourth years, they receive an annual $4,000 scholarship. Learn more about Saluki Step Ahead.