Blinn College administrators present innovative dual admission and co-enrollment programs at SACSCOC annual meeting

Blinn's partnerships with The Texas A&M University System and Texas A&M University include the RELLIS Academic Alliance, TEAM, and the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Blinn-Brenham

December 11, 2024

Leaders from the Blinn College District recently presented at the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Annual Meeting, sharing how Blinn’s innovative dual admission and co-enrollment programs are reshaping pathways to student success. Dr. Marcelo Bussiki, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Dr. Joyce Langenegger, Dean for Academic Support Services; and Dr. Michelle McGehee, Dean for Academic Affairs, highlighted the pivotal role of these programs, particularly the RELLIS Academic Alliance, in providing seamless academic transitions for students.

The establishment of dual admission and co-enrollment partnerships was the centerpiece of the presentation, with an emphasis on Blinn’s relationship with The Texas A&M University System as a part of the RELLIS Academic Alliance. This one-of-a-kind collaboration between Blinn and The Texas A&M University System allows students to complete their associate degree at Blinn College and transfer seamlessly to one of several Texas A&M System universities co-located at Texas A&M-RELLIS in Bryan, Texas. This partnership offers students access to state-of-the-art facilities, nationally recognized programs, and a streamlined pathway to their bachelor’s degrees.

Key features of the RELLIS Academic Alliance include:

• Co-enrollment with partner institutions ensures credits transfer seamlessly, reducing barriers to degree completion.
• A focus on workforce-ready programs and academic excellence, with Blinn offering programs in health sciences, trades, and applied sciences.
• Significant growth in student success, with over 631 RELLIS Academic Alliance students earning bachelor’s degrees since the program began.

“Through the RELLIS Academic Alliance, Blinn is redefining what it means to create accessible, efficient pathways for students to achieve their academic goals,” Bussiki said. “This partnership embodies the spirit of collaboration between community colleges and universities, placing student success at the forefront.”

In addition to the RELLIS Academic Alliance, Blinn has agreements in place for 14 other dual admission programs with six other universities. Other co-enrollment programs highlighted in the presentation included:

• Texas A&M-Blinn TEAM Program: A collaborative program with Texas A&M University that allows students to co-enroll at both institutions, providing a supportive environment and a clear pathway to earning a bachelor’s degree.
• Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Blinn-Brenham: This program enables students to take Texas A&M engineering courses taught by A&M faculty on Blinn’s Brenham Campus while living in campus housing and completing their associate degrees.
• Texas A&M Engineering at Blinn-RELLIS: Students co-enroll at Texas A&M and Blinn College, taking Texas A&M courses on the A&M campus and Blinn courses at the RELLIS Campus, with a guaranteed pathway to their first-choice engineering major.

Blinn’s dual admission and co-enrollment partnerships address challenges such as financial barriers, credit transfer issues, and the need for clear academic pathways. These partnerships not only improve transfer rates but also provide students with access to resources at both institutions, fostering a sense of university identity from the start of their academic journey.

The presentation emphasized Blinn’s success in transfer outcomes, including:

• A state-leading transfer rate of 46.3%, nearly double the Texas state average.
• A 90% transition rate for Blinn TEAM students to Texas A&M majors.
• Time-to-degree rates that significantly outperform state averages.

For more information about Blinn College and its co-enrollment programs, including the RELLIS Academic Alliance, please visit www.blinn.edu.