Officials of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College and Auburn University at Montgomery this week signed an agreement for greater collaboration and student success.

LBWCC President Dr. Herb Riedel and AUM Chancellor Dr. John G. Veres III signed an official partnership agreement that had three primary provisions: to encourage students to transfer and continue their education after completing studies at LBW, to establish scholarships to help offset the cost of attending AUM, and to provide a mechanism for “reverse transfer” for those students who transfer from LBW prior to completing an associate’s degree.

“This agreement strengthens the ties between LBW and AUM,” said Riedel. “It makes it easier for students to transfer, obtain early access to university advising, and also provides very attractive scholarships.”

The agreement established two categories of scholarships. One category is an unlimited number of scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 based on a student’s GPA while at LBW. The other category is the LBW Presidential Scholarship for full tuition for two years and awarded based on the recommendation of the LBW president.

“This agreement is mutually beneficial to both institutions,” said Veres.

The “reverse transfer” provision of the agreement is especially important for some students, said Riedel.

“If a student decides to transfer before completing his or her associate’s degree at LBW, this provision allows credits earned at AUM to transfer back to LBW in order for the student to obtain that degree,” he said.

“This is the beginning of a wonderful partnership,” said AUM’s Chief Diversity Officer Timothy Spraggins. “We are making history and will serve as a benchmark that others will follow.”