For immediate release - June 29, 2007
(DALLAS) — Dallas County Community College District students who would like to become teachers and work with elementary school children (fourth-graders, specifically) can add teacher education to their list of options now that officials from both DCCCD and Stephen F. Austin University have signed a transfer agreement creating a seamless transition for students between the two institutions.
Representatives — including Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr., DCCCD’s chancellor, and Dr. Baker Pattillo, president of SFASU — signed the agreement during a special ceremony on Thursday, June 28, at DCCCD’s downtown office. Other officials from both institutions also participated, including: Dr. Andres Jones, DCCCD vice chancellor for educational affairs; Dr. Richard McCrary, interim vice president of instruction at Brookhaven College (who originated the partnership when he was serving as DCCCD associate vice chancellor for educational affairs); Dr. Janice Pattillo, chair of the SFASU department of elementary education; and Dr. John Jacobson, dean of the SFASU College of Education.
“DCCCD students continue to benefit when we add new partners in higher education so that we can offer them more options for their educational and professional growth,” said Lassiter. “We are honored to join hands with Stephen F. Austin State University as a partner with our district, and we look forward to the additional opportunities for our students that this agreement provides — especially in teacher education. Our students today are the teachers of tomorrow.”
“We are pleased to welcome DCCCD students to SFASU’s family, and we look forward to working with them as they pursue their bachelor’s degrees,” said Pattillo. “We have a history of success in teacher education at SFASU, producing qualified and certified teachers since 1923.”
SFASU will admit and accept DCCCD students who have completed an Associate of Arts in Teaching degree and who have qualified for admission under SFASU’s requirements. DCCCD students may transfer up to 68 credit hours to SFASU’s Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with early childhood – fourth-grade teacher certification. Those credit-hour courses must be in the areas of English and communications; mathematics; natural sciences; humanities, visual and performing arts; social and behavioral sciences; art and music; or TECA options (related to education). Transfer students also must take a specific list of education courses at DCCCD to qualify for the university’s early childhood - fourth-grade teacher certification.
SFASU will work with DCCCD to provide reverse transfer arrangements for any students who transfer from DCCCD to the university before they earn their associate degrees.
DCCCD, in turn, will provide its students with SFASU course listings from the agreement’s programs and assist with advising students who wish to transfer their coursework to the university. Both institutions will conduct an annual program review and will deliver the courses outlined in the transfer agreement. Online program admission also is available
to DCCCD students who qualify. The online program targets teacher’s aides and others who are location-bound but would like to earn their bachelor’s degrees and teacher certification in order to advance their careers.
For more information about the DCCCD/SFASU transfer agreement and stipulations, contact Gregory Williams, DCCCD’s director of transfer services/articulation and university relations, at (214) 860-2185.
Photo: Left — Dr. Baker Pattillo, president of Stephen F. Austin State University; right — Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr., chancellor, DCCCD.
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Press contact: Ann Hatch
214-860-2478; ahatch@dcccd.edu