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SFA and El Centro College sign articulation agreement

University Marketing Communications
•
March 31, 2014
Photo courtesy of Sammie Johnson, EEC

El Centro College and SFA have agreed to a comprehensive articulation agreement between the institutions' hospitality programs. Pictured, from left, are Jessie Yearwood, ECC food and hospitality instructor; Dr. Lynda Martin, director of SFA's School of Human Sciences; Dr. Chay Runnels, SFA assistant professor of human sciences; Swee Hua-Goh, ECC food and hospitality team leader and instructor; Dr. Carl Pfaffenberg, SFA associate professor of human sciences; Dr. Judith Abbott, dean of SFA's James I. Perkins College of Education; Howard Finney, ECC dean of business, public service and information technology; Dr. Paul J. McCarthy, ECC president; Dr. Baker Pattillo, SFA president; Karen Stills, ECC coordinator of student services; and Russell Haynes, ECC associate dean of business, public service and information technology. Photo courtesy of Sammie Johnson, EEC


NACOGDOCHES, Texas - El Centro College of the Dallas County Community College District and the School of Human Sciences at Stephen F. Austin State University have agreed to a comprehensive articulation agreement between the institutions' hospitality programs.

Under the new collaborative agreement, students will be able to transfer up to 66 total credit hours to SFA, including 30 hours from El Centro's food and hospitality program. They will then be able to transfer and complete remaining requirements for the Bachelor of Science in hospitality administration from SFA.

This articulation agreement represents an example of President Barack Obama's "Building American Skills Through Community Colleges" initiative to make higher education more accessible, affordable and attainable for all American families, representatives from the two schools said. The agreement also aligns with the state's "College for All Texans" strategic plan seeking to prepare individuals for a changing economy and workforce.

Representatives from both schools participated in a formal signing ceremony held in early March at El Centro's downtown campus. This partnership is the second articulation agreement between the two institutions, adding to the 2013 partnership between the schools' fashion merchandising programs.