SIUC and Lewis & Clark Community College Sign Transfer Agreement

New partnership expands pathways for community college students to earn four-year degrees at SIUC.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 12:00am

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Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) and Lewis and Clark Community College (LC) have signed a new transfer agreement that will allow community college students to apply early to SIUC's Saluki Step Ahead program and earn automatic admission as juniors. The agreement covers several academic programs including accounting, business administration, education, and nursing.

Why it matters

This partnership aims to make it more affordable and accessible for community college students to complete a four-year degree by allowing them to earn credits at the lower-cost LC before transferring to SIUC. It also provides a clear pathway for students to transition from a two-year to a four-year program.

The details

Through the Saluki Step Ahead program, LC students can apply to SIUC during their first year of community college and secure a degree track. If admitted, they can then complete their first two years at LC and transfer to SIUC as juniors. Students in the program also receive a total of $8,000 in discounts on their junior and senior year tuition at SIUC.

  • The transfer agreement was signed on March 5, 2026.
  • The Saluki Step Ahead program allows community college students to apply during their first year.

The players

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC)

A public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois and one of the largest universities in the state.

Lewis and Clark Community College (LC)

A public community college with multiple campuses in the Southwestern Illinois region, including its main campus in Godfrey.

Ken Trzaska

President of Lewis and Clark Community College.

Austin Lane

Chancellor of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

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What they’re saying

“We are always looking for ways in which we can be better partners to one another, while supporting our students' educational journeys.”

— Ken Trzaska, President, Lewis and Clark Community College (stauntonstartimes.com)

“We want them to finish with you first; it's more economically feasible if they do that. That $8,000 is going to help them be able to finish without acquiring all this debt. We are fully committed to making sure that students from Lewis and Clark get a first-class transfer education and a research one top tier opportunity at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.”

— Austin Lane, Chancellor, Southern Illinois University Carbondale (stauntonstartimes.com)

What’s next

The Saluki Step Ahead program is now open for applications from first-year Lewis and Clark Community College students.

The takeaway

This new transfer agreement between SIUC and Lewis & Clark Community College provides an affordable and accessible pathway for community college students to earn a four-year degree, helping to make higher education more attainable.