ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï and LSUS’ Master’s program partnership a ‘win-win’
Dr. Christopher Holoman, president of ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï College, said a new partnership allowing ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï seniors to enroll early into Louisiana State University Shreveport’s (LSUS) Masters of Liberal Arts (MLA) program is a “win-win.”
Dr. Holoman and Dr. Robert T. Smith, chancellor of LSUS, signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, on ÓéÀֳԹϒs campus. The MOU says ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï seniors may apply to LSUS’ MLA program so they can take classes toward their graduate degree during their last year of undergraduate work. ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï students must have a GPA of 3.5 or above to be eligible for the dual enrollment, and they will be eligible for graduate assistantship (GA) which provides a tuition waiver and compensation.
“Research has shown that being able to lay out a path for students from the very beginning leads to more success as undergraduates,” said Dr. Christopher Holoman. “They can build on their great liberal arts skills here into a graduate degree from LSUS and further employment. It’s a win-win all around.”
“It’s really beneficial both campuses,” said Dr. Smith. “What’s clear is that students in their senior year at ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï can start to take graduate classes and get a leg up on their graduate program at LSU Shreveport.”
ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï students with a 3.0 GPA or above may apply for early acceptance to LSUS’ MLA program and attend after graduating. The agreement also allows ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï faculty to apply for graduate faculty status at LSUS allowing them to teach courses for the MLA program. Faculty and staff from both ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï and LSUS may serve as visiting scholars at each other’s schools, and take advantage of online training each offers.
“It just makes economic sense for us to utilize the great resources at LSUS,” said Dr. Holoman. “We have our own graduate programs, of course, but it doesn’t make sense to duplicate when there’s already an outstanding program in town.” He said LSUS also benefits from having the outstanding students who graduate from ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï. Both Dr. Holoman and Dr. Smith agree that this will also be good for the Shreveport-Bossier area.
“It’s beneficial for the region because when students complete graduate degrees – and undergraduate degrees – in the city of Shreveport, they’re more likely to stay here, work here, and build lives here,” said Smith.
This is the second such agreement between both 4-year institutions. ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï and LSUS signed a similar memorandum of understanding in June allowing ÓéÀÖ³Ô¹Ï undergraduates to enroll in LSUS’s Master of Public Health program.