The University of Houston-Victoria and Laredo College recently signed an articulation agreement, charting a more seamless route for transfer students to enter the university and earn a bachelor’s degree.

Karla DeCuir

“We are excited to partner with Laredo College so we could continue to support students who like small schools and could benefit from one-on-one attention with professors and staff members,” said Karla DeCuir, UHV interim vice president for enrollment management.

Laredo College has a population that is like UHV’s, DeCuir said. The student body is predominantly Hispanic students, with some coming from rural areas with similar socioeconomic backgrounds, so potential transfer students from Laredo will feel more comfortable coming to UHV, DeCuir said.

“The university has about 40 percent of its student population composed of transfer students,” DeCuir said. “So, our transfer partners are very important to us.”

Located a little more than 200 miles west from Victoria, Laredo College, a public community college, sits near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The agreement was signed Aug. 1 by UHV President Bob Glenn and Minita Ramírez, president of Laredo College. Starting as early as freshman year, students will have a guide on the full roadmap of required courses before they can begin the transfer process.

“Laredo College and the University of Houston-Victoria have a shared history of fostering academic excellence and student achievement,” Ramírez said. “This new partnership between our institutions will open countless new doors of opportunity for students as they continue their journey in higher education. We are thankful to our exceptional partners at UHV for working hand in hand with us to ease the transfer process and help our Palominos transition into proud Jaguars.”

UHV will begin reaching out to potential transfers when they have completed at least 30 credit hours. Once they do, students can begin to connect with a transfer recruiter to plan their path to UHV, DeCuir said. As part of the partnership, UHV will sometimes offer application waivers for students and special transfer scholarships.

“The goal is to keep it a two-plus-two program in which students will do two years at Laredo College and two years at UHV,” DeCuir said.

UHV’s history of partnerships dates to its founding in 1973. The university was established as an upper-division university and found its footing relying on partnerships with different community colleges. As the years went by, UHV continued in expanding its partnerships, with some of the biggest transfer populations coming from Houston Community College and Victoria College, DeCuir said.

“Laredo College and the University of Houston-Victoria have established a pivotal partnership that underscores our joint dedication to student success and seamless academic transitions,” said Horacio Salinas, Laredo College Dean of Arts and Sciences.

“This collaboration highlights our commitment to quality education and paves a clear pathway for our students' futures, ensuring they have every opportunity to excel. Together, we are shaping a brighter, more interconnected educational landscape.”