2020 Annual Report

Those wanting to transfer from Gadsden State to Alabama State received positive news in May. 

Gadsden State President Dr. Martha Lavender and Alabama State President Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr. held a virtual joint press conference and both signed a  memorandum of understanding in agreement to provide students a smooth pathway from an associate degree at Gadsden State to a bachelor’s degree at Alabama State. 

The agreement will allow Gadsden State students who have attained associate, two-year degrees to transfer to Alabama State without losing any credit hours. 

“Alabama State University faculty and staff, under leadership of Dr. Ross, actually introduced the idea that we should create this partnership,” Lavender said. “We are so excited to do that because it symbolizes what we should see in education — and that is a seamless education for students from start to finish.” 

Ross called the partnership “a match made in heaven.” 

“I’m continuing to work to expand this memorandum of agreement, which will probably take place sometime in the next couple of weeks,” he added. “I think Gadsden State students will be excited to know what happens when they decide to come to the Alabama State University, transferring with an associate degree to continue on with their four-year bachelor’s degree.” 

The agreement was initially set to be signed in person on Gadsden State’s East Broad campus in April, but was moved to May virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

GSCC and ASU both said the signing was “among the very first virtual signing agreements between Alabama institutions of higher education.” 

"We are all about providing opportunities for our students, opportunities that allow them to reach their educational dreams," Lavender said during the teleconference. 

“We had this discussion on how we could partner together, to improve students’ success, and to provide this seamless opportunity from your institution, to a four- year institution,” said Ross.