The University of Memphis has reached a formal agreement with the Lambuth University administration to oversee Lambuth students' transfer to U of M and the continuation of their education.
A team of University of Memphis advisers and representatives of the financial aid office visited the Jackson, Tenn., college Monday to speak with students about degree programs, financial aid and transferring to The U of M, said Tom Nenon, vice provost for assessment, institutional research and reporting.
The Board of Trustees of Lambuth University will cease academic operations June 30, 2011. The U of M has reached a "teach-out" agreement with Lambuth to guide Lambuth students through the transfer process and their undergraduate studies.
"It's a technical term used in regional accreditors agencies when they close out a university," Nenon said. "They must provide a plan and must be with a partner. We're one of several partners, including Freed-Hardeman (University), Bethel (University), Union (University) and (Christian Brothers University)."
The U of M has agreed to accept all Lambuth students who are in good academic standing, to accept all their earned credits and to apply all the appropriate course credits to their U of M degree programs.
"On the academic side, we are going to do the best we can to accept their credits and help them earn a degree with integrity," Nenon said.
To ease the financial burden on Lambuth students and their families, The U of M has agreed to honor any scholarships that students held with Lambuth and waive the $35 application fee to The U of M. It also plans to match the scholarships by percentage of total tuition cost.
Annual tuition at The U of M is $6,780 for a student taking the minimum requirement of 12 hours a semester and enrolled in courses with no additional fees, according to the tuition estimator on The University's website. Yearly tuition for Lambuth University is $18,900.
"Giving scholarships to a small number of students should not impact our student body negatively. This includes any incoming freshman," Nenon said.
The U of M, only 80 miles from Jackson, already has a presence at Jackson State Community College and offers many online courses and degree programs.
The U of M currently enrolls more than 17,500 undergraduate students and offers them 15 bachelor's degrees in more than 50 subjects and 70 concentrations.
"Lots of people come here and do well," Nenon said. "We graduate over 1,000 transfer students a year. This is something we do well."
