RAYMOND — Hinds Community College and Mississippi Valley State University have signed an agreement to ensure success for students considering careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Seated, from left, Dr. Constance G. Bland, MVSU vice president of Academic Affairs, MVSU President Dr. Jerryl Briggs Sr., Hinds President Dr. Clyde Muse, Dr. Theresa Hamilton, vice president for the Raymond Campus and the Jackson Campus Nursing/Allied Health Center and director of College Parallel Programs (Hinds Community College/Tammi Bowles)
A 2 Plus 2 Agreement between the two institutions will enable students in environmental health, biology and chemistry programs to transfer to the four-year program at MVSU once they’ve graduated from Hinds. The pact allows for two Transfer Scholarships to be awarded by MVSU to graduates with associate degrees with a grade point average of at least 3.5, to cover tuition and required fees for their junior and senior year.
Junior, senior and graduate-level courses through MVSU will be offered to Hinds students in fact-to-face, hybrid or online settings. For its part, Hinds will provide a classroom and a lab for instructional purposes on the campus and space for MVSU to recruit Hinds graduates and provide support services to interested students.
“Thanks to our agreements between IHL institutions and the community colleges, we’ve made the process of transfer much simpler, and it’s an advantage to the students,” said Hinds President Dr. Clyde Muse during a signing ceremony at the Raymond Campus April 27.
MVSU President Dr. Jerryl Briggs said the agreement moves the Itta Bena university’s goals in the right direction.
“Partnerships such as these will help students of both institutions grow and move their lives forward,” Briggs said.
Among the stated goals of the new partnership are to promote successful undergraduate educational experiences for students who wish to attend both institutions, broaden the options for science and math students at Hinds to enter the Environmental Health, Biology and Chemistry programs at MVSU and improve the coordination of degree programs between the two institutions.