South Louisiana Community College recently established a partnership with McNeese State University (MSU) that benefits students seeking to transfer their two-year business degrees. In light of this partnership, The Advocate has recently written a feature article that details just how SLCC has expanded over the past few years to become one of the largest community colleges in the state of Louisiana.

South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) was established in Lafayette back in 1997 with the aim of providing both academic and vocational training opportunities. Over the years, SLCC has grown significantly, and in 2012, it merged with the Acadiana Technical Colleges, expanding its reach to become a comprehensive community college with campuses in eight parishes. Today, SLCC stands as one of the largest community colleges in Louisiana, boasting an impressive student enrollment of over 7,000 individuals.

Situated on the main Lafayette campus off Bertrand Drive, SLCC encompasses three buildings that cater to various educational needs. The Devalcourt Building, a three-floor structure, primarily houses classrooms dedicated to general studies. On the other hand, the Ardoin Building, named in honor of Ted Ardoin, accommodates the welding department, as well as other technical training programs and the financial aid office.

In 2016, a state-of-the-art Health and Sciences building was added to the campus, comprising three stories of modern facilities. This building serves as the home for the esteemed Nursing Program and also houses administrative offices. Additionally, the Devalcourt Building is where the Early College Academy is located. As Lafayette Parish’s only school of its kind, the Early College Academy offers high school students a unique opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and a two-year associate degree in their chosen field.

The recently-announced agreement between SLCC and MSU provides a clear pathway for SLCC students to seamlessly transfer their credits to MSU and continue their education towards a four-year degree. The official signing ceremony for this transfer agreement took place at SLCC, attended by Chancellor Vincent June and MSU President Daryl Burckel. The Dean of McNeese’s College of Business, Sherry Bai, emphasized the immediate effectiveness of this agreement, highlighting the opportunities it presents to aspiring business professionals. Bai was quoted as saying, “our main goal today is to make the transfers seamless, effortless.”

It’s worth noting that McNeese State University’s business school offers a wide range of programs, including accounting, business administration, finance, management, and marketing. In addition to undergraduate degrees, McNeese also provides a master’s of business administration (MBA) degree and a specialized certificate program in the liquefied natural gas business. As for SLCC, it has established 2+2 transfer agreements with business programs at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Nicholls State University, and the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans. In fact, the agreement with Holy Cross was just signed the previous day, indicating SLCC’s commitment to expanding its partnerships and opportunities for students.

SLCC Chancellor Vincent June expressed his excitement about the recent 2+2 agreements signed with McNeese and other institutions. He revealed that these agreements mark the first significant partnerships forged by SLCC since the onset of the pandemic, and he anticipates the establishment of additional agreements with other colleges and universities in the near future, likely starting in the upcoming fall semester.

The collaboration between community colleges like SLCC and four-year institutions such as McNeese State University is an excellent example of how students can take advantage of seamless transfer pathways. By starting their educational journey at a community college, students can save on tuition costs, receive specialized training in their chosen fields, and smoothly transition to a four-year institution to complete their bachelor’s degrees. These partnerships ensure that students have the necessary support and resources to achieve their academic and career goals effectively.

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