By News and Internal Communications

LAREDO, TEXAS – MARCH 30, 2023 – With more than 150 miles separating Laredo College and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, distance is still no barrier to collaborating and providing Laredo students with expanded higher education opportunities.

Today, March 30, both institutions signed a joint admission agreement – LC2UTRGV – that creates an easy pathway for Laredo College students to transfer seamlessly to UTRGV. 

The signing ceremony was held on the Laredo College Ft. McIntosh Campus, which celebrates 75 years of offering affordable academic, workforce, adult and continuing education programs. 

In addition to the joint admission agreement, UTRGV and Laredo College also signed an institutional articulation agreement that provides a broad framework for more specific transfer planning that will occur at the program level. 

The articulation agreement will help students succeed by providing guidelines for how courses will transfer between the two institutions. UTRGV and Laredo College will develop program-specific, associate degree to bachelor’s degree, 2+2 transfer plans to outline which courses taken in Laredo will count and apply toward degree requirements at UTRGV upon transfer.

“Laredo College is always looking for new ways to promote student success and academic enrichment, whether that comes in the form of new programs, student support services or strategic partnerships that enhance our students’ lives,” Laredo College President Dr. Minita Ramírez said. 

“This new partnership with UTRGV will help us further our mission and make it easier for students to go through the transition from one institution to the next. We look forward to this great collaboration with our counterparts in the Rio Grande Valley to help students succeed in their chosen career field,” she said.

The agreements help create a framework that will inform students and their advisors about how courses will transfer between the two schools. Both admissions and academic advising offices will collaborate to achieve maximum transferability of courses, so that courses taken at Laredo College will count and apply toward specifically identified degree requirements at UTRGV. 

UTRGV President Guy Bailey said the agreement will help expand educational and professional opportunities for students and their families in Webb County.

“We are excited to enter into this partnership today with Laredo College because we know it will help shape the future of Texas,” Bailey said. “We look forward to welcoming the first of many Laredo College students to UTRGV, and know they will benefit greatly from this new, expanded access to higher education.”

Laredo College students attend the press conference announcing the partnership on Thursday. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)

The Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees offered at Laredo College will link to current majors at UTRGV. An Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science in General Studies will also offer a pathway for students to complete 18 hours of coursework beyond the core curriculum that may map to other majors at UTRGV.  

• Students who attend Laredo College in Fall 2023 for the first time will benefit from the LC2UTRGV joint admissions program.
• Students will not be required to complete an application to UTRGV as they will automatically have an application created for Fall 2024 or future term based on the agreement requirements.
• Students who successfully completed 24 or more semester credit hours, have a 2.0 GPA, or earn an academic associate degree can benefit from the seamless application and admission process.

Mariana Montemayor, a Laredo College freshman majoring in early childhood education, said she is excited for the opportunities the partnership will provide her and fellow students.

“I like the fact that we do not have to go to ApplyTexas and do the process all over again. We can just transfer with a smooth process in between,” said Montemayor, who said she plans to take advantage of the collaboration. “It is going to be very effective and help a lot of students.”

UTRGV Video by Amanda L. Alaniz

Mario Ramón, a Laredo College sophomore, said he plans to take advantage of this partnership and transfer to UTRGV in the future. Attending UTRGV would be ideal for him as it is not too far from home, he said.

“I think it is very good news, not just for us but for all students, providing this opportunity to only have to apply once, and allowing the credits to transfer,” said Ramon, an exercise science major. “It creates a bridge from going to a community college to a four-year university. I think this is going to help us a lot.”

UTRGV will also encourage students to complete an associate degree at Laredo College before transferring. Furthermore, the institution will support students through the reverse articulation, allowing the students to complete academic credentials while pursuing their bachelor’s degrees. Once admitted and enrolled, all transfer students must complete at least 25% of coursework from the specific UTRGV program of study in residence.

To learn more about the LC2UTRGV partnership, visit www.utrgv.edu/undergraduate-admissions/index.htm or contact Laredo College at admissions@laredo.edu or 956-721-5109.

Laredo College and UTRGV administrators following the press conference announcing the partnership between the campuses. The Laredo College and UTRGV agreements help create a framework that will inform students and their advisors about how courses will transfer between the two schools. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)

ABOUT LAREDO COLLEGE

Laredo College is a two-campus district serving the diverse needs of a growing community. The downtown Fort McIntosh Campus maintains its historic origins, while history begins anew at our South Campus in South Laredo, with contemporary architecture and the latest technology, which opened in the spring of 2004. Our two campuses serve more than 10,000 students each semester through a variety of affordable academic programs, technical and vocational programs, non-credit community interest courses and adult education courses that help area adults obtain English skills, job skills or a General Educational Development diploma. Both campuses serve a three-county area composed of Webb, Jim Hogg and Zapata counties.