SIC, SIU Carbondale Leaders Sign Saluki Step Ahead Agreement Offering New Opportunities for Students

Southern Illinois University Carbondale strengthened its commitment to students with agreements to provide an SIU education to qualified place-bound students who attend Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg.

SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane on June 2 signed an agreement with Southeastern Illinois College President Jonah Rice to participate in the Saluki Step Ahead Program.

Following graduation with an associate degree from the community college, students can go on to complete their SIU bachelor’s degrees online and at a lower cost in six academic programs: accounting, business administration, criminology and criminal justice, health care management, psychology and radiologic sciences.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Southeastern Illinois College to provide another option for place-bound students in this region,” Lane said. “If these students cannot come to Carbondale to complete their education, we will bring the experience and resources of a doctoral research university to them. This agreement fits well with our strategic plan, Imagine 2030, and its pillars that address partnerships and student success.”

These new agreement will bring SIU Carbondale to a total of 19 Saluki Step Ahead pacts that the university has with community colleges in Illinois and Missouri.

“SIC is proud to partner with SIU Carbondale on this agreement,” Rice said. “Students have more opportunities for access to quality and affordable education because of the SIC-SIU connection.”

Students in the program pay the community college rate for their first two years. In the third and fourth years, they receive an annual $4,000 scholarship. The goal is to allow them to earn their degree for $25,000 or less. For more about Saluki Step Ahead, read the press release announcing the initiative.

(Article provided by SIU Carbondale.)