Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Stephen F. Austin State University’s Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies (EC-6 core subjects) offered at the RELLIS Academic Alliance campus in Bryan, Texas, will be phasing out over the next two years. SFA is committed to supporting currently enrolled students in completing their degree and teacher certification without interruption.
Information to support teacher candidates enrolled in this program will be maintained and updated at this website as needed during this transition. Consult this website or contact the SFA/RELLIS Academic Alliance program coordinator Dr. Adam Akerson at akersona@sfasu.edu for further information.
Teach-out plan for courses
Teacher candidates enrolled with SFA on the RELLIS Academic Alliance campus will be offered a combination of face-to-face and online coursework on the RELLIS campus in Bryan through the end of the spring 2025 semester. Teacher candidates who have not completed the program by this time will be offered the opportunity to join SFA’s Lumberjack Link-Ed Distance Education Program for the Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies, a fully online program.
An application for the Link-Ed program is not required to maintain enrollment with SFA; however, candidates should notify the coordinator for the Link-Ed program, Dr. Susan Reily, at reilys@sfasu.edu to indicate their interest. Once she receives notification, candidates will be provided with a partnership agreement to allow them to complete the required field experiences in a Texas Education Agency-accredited school.
Field experiences and clinical teaching
Teacher candidates enrolled in face-to-face field experiences on the RELLIS Academic Alliance campus will be able to complete Field I and Field II as well as clinical teaching in accredited EC-6 schools in the Bryan/College Station area. A faculty member from SFA will supervise these experiences.
Tuition
The final date for teacher candidates enrolled in the RELLIS program to complete their Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies at the tuition rate offered for this program is August 2026. At this point, any teacher candidates enrolled in the program who have not completed their degree may continue to completion but will be charged the customary rate for SFA students enrolled in distance education programs.
To view the rates for SFA students enrolled at RELLIS, visit the RELLIS Academic Alliance FAQ webpage.
The standard SFA tuition rate for distance education students can be found on SFA’s Cost of Attendance webpage.
Do I have to complete the application for the Link-Ed online program before I can be advised?
You are not required to complete the application before you are advised. Names of those eligible for this transition from the RELLIS program to the Link-Ed online program have been sent to the advisor for the EC-6 online program, Deanna McCollum. However, candidates are expected to complete the partnership agreement portion of the application process.
What is the partnership agreement and why do I need to complete it?
The partnership agreement documents agreement from a representative of a TEA-accredited school for you to complete your course and field experience requirements. Once you have notified the program coordinator that you are transitioning to the Link-Ed program, this partnership agreement form will be provided to you. It is imperative that you identify a TEA-accredited school in your area that is willing to allow you to complete field requirements in their district. This partnership agreement should be secured prior to beginning education courses so there is no delay in completing requirements each semester for your education courses.