Options for local students who attend LBWCC and transfer to Troy University just increased.

On Monday, Troy and LBWCC officials signed an agreement that now allows transfer students to complete their associate degree while pursuing their bachelor’s degree.

Named the reverse transfer agreement, it allows former LBWCC students who choose to transfer to Troy to transfer eligible credits back to the college for the purpose of earning an associate degree.

Students qualified for reverse transfer will have earned at least 15 semester credit hours from LBW, will have earned at least three semester credit hours from Troy University, and will be in good standing at both institutions.

Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr., told the crowd gathered there the university and the two-year college system have also worked together.

In fact, some 450 current Troy students have come through LBW.

“What we are doing today will help counter one of those shortcoming in Alabama,” he said. “By any measure, we do not have too many educated people and often a barometer for the measures found in degrees. I think as we recognize the academic work whether here or at Troy, but it culminates in a credential. That’s important. It adds so much to the individual’s resume and their preparation.”

Hawkins said it is good public policy.

“That’s where we have got to keep our sights,” he said. “Not on individual interest, not on institutional interests, but on what’s in the best interest of the state of Alabama. Today is a step in that direction. I would predict that because this is the logical thing to do, probably public policy will be changed in the future so that students from all Alabama’s two-year colleges will have this same benefit from all the universities in the state.”

LBW President Dr. Herb Riedel said the agreement had unsurpassed value in terms of education.

“Equally as important as partnering with K-12 is for the two-year colleges to partner with the universities,” he said. “This agreement is an indicator of a closer working relationship with the university that directly benefits our students.”

Mayor Earl Johnson, who was on hand, said LBW means so much to this community.

“All of you know my love for Troy University,” he said. “Dr. Jim Krudop and I were both members of the same graduating class. There was no LBW when he and I graduated from high school. I know that there were many people in our class who would have taken advantage of LBW had it been in existence. There is no question of the benefit that LBW brings to this community. I’m talking about all of Covington County and South Central Alabama.”

Johnson said this agreement is about students. It’s about how these two institutions have come together to benefit students.

This agreement is the second of several partnerships for both Troy and LBW.

Troy plans to sign a similar agreement with Wallace Community College in Dothan, and has already signed one with Southern Union Community College.

LBW had signed a partnership agreement with AUM.