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HATTIESBURG
- To benefit students taking classes simultaneously at The University
of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College,
the two institutions entered into a consortium agreement Friday
that will allow for federal financial aid based on both enrollments.
The effort
-- announced by Southern Miss President Dr. Shelby Thames and MGCCC
President Dr. Willis Lott during a signing ceremony at the Southern
Miss Gulf Park campus in Long Beach -- will allow part-time students
to receive maximum federal aid while dually enrolled.
"It is
the goal of both Southern Miss and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community
College to give students the best opportunity possible to achieve
a quality education," Thames said.
"We want
to eliminate any roadblock that might impede their path to quality
education. Their access should be convenient and student-friendly,"
he added. "We have torn down one roadblock today by announcing
the development of a consortium agreement."
Southern Miss
and MGCCC have had a long friendship on the Gulf Coast. In 1976
the schools entered into the Two-Plus-Two agreement, which allowed
undergraduate students to earn their first two years at MGCCC and
then seamlessly transfer to Southern Miss for the second two years.
"The financial
aid consortium is another step toward strengthening the partnership
between Southern Miss and MGCCC in a way that benefits students,"
Lott said. "Our college appreciates Dr. Thames's leadership
in finalizing the consortium. This is good news for students who
are utilizing the resources of both the community college and the
university to meet their educational goals."
Information
received from the National Student Loan Data Systems Clearinghouse
revealed that during the fall 2002 semester, 125 students were enrolled
simultaneously at Southern Miss and MGCCC. This agreement, which
becomes effective in fall 2003, will strengthen enrollment at both
Southern Miss and MGCCC.
Thames said:
"This agreement hopefully will encourage more students to obtain
a degree. We know that sometimes financial challenges keep students
from furthering their education, and we hope that with this effort
we can alleviate that obstacle."
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