Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas — In its continued efforts to seek new avenues for reducing barriers to higher education, Stephen F. Austin State University has unveiled a new program aimed at recognizing high-achieving SFA undergraduates by fast tracking them into a graduate program of their choice.
Created through the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, Axe-celerated Admission allows faculty members to nominate standout students once a year in the spring for VIP admission into a graduate program of their choice at SFA.
“The program is meant to encourage great SFA undergraduate students to continue their advanced education by enrolling in a graduate program at SFA,” said Dr. Pauline M. Sampson, dean of the SFA Office of Research and Graduate Studies. “The program will benefit students by easing their application process and allow them to register earlier. It also will recognize students for their outstanding work as the nomination alone is a prestigious acknowledgment.”
Nomination allows students to bypass proof of a bachelor’s degree as well as offers
• early admission to an SFA graduate program of their choice
• early registration
• and reduction of the required three letters of recommendation to just one, written by the nominator.
The inaugural nomination period will open Feb. 1 and close March 1.
“We want to let students know about their nomination and acceptance prior to spring break each year so they have more time to best prepare for entry into a graduate program,” Sampson said. “We are excited to recognize our great undergraduate students and encourage them to continue their outstanding work for a master’s degree with professors who already know them.”
As of now, there are no limits to the number of students a faculty member can recommend. Coordinators will assess initial reception and use of the program and will consider implementation of a limit in the future.
For more information, visit the Axe-celerated Admission website at sfasu.edu/axe-celerated.