Published on June 17, 2024  
JeffersonState Samford Partnership

Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) and Samford University have initiated a historic partnership to facilitate student transfers between their institutions through a formal agreement made official on June 17.

President Keith Brown of Jefferson State and President Beck A. Taylor of Samford met at Jefferson State’s Jefferson Campus to sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancing transfer opportunities for students.

“This agreement will significantly broaden our students’ transfer possibilities, enabling them to pursue their educational aspirations more effectively,” President Brown said. “It marks a new milestone in our partnership with Samford University, and I am eager to see the positive impact it will have on our students.”

“Samford is thrilled to provide transfer pathways and new scholarship opportunities for Jefferson State students. Since the development of Samford’s strategic plan, Fidelitas, we have focused even more on the creation of new, expanded, and revised academic programs that enhance our existing offerings and meet the needs of new student populations. This partnership with Jefferson State Community College is an important step towards furthering this goal,” said President Taylor. The agreement aims to create a mutually beneficial program that allows Jefferson State associate degree students to seamlessly transition to Samford to pursue several bachelor’s degree programs.

As per the first-of-its-kind agreement, Jefferson State will actively promote the partnership to students, while Samford will provide transfer pathways for both online and traditional undergraduate programs.  

Samford will also introduce a “Jeff State Transfer Scholarship,” offering $2,000 for every 24 credit hours taken over three semesters to all admitted regular, full-time transfer students.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.