![Itawamba Community College President Jay Allen, left, and Mississippi State Provost and Executive Vice President Judy Bonner sign a memorandum of understanding Friday [April 26] to create a pathway for ICC honors students to matriculate directly into the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College at MSU. (Photo by Logan Kirkland)](https://www.msstate.edu/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/ICC_MOU_Agreement_20190426__4LK2187FULL.jpg "MSU and ICC MOU Signing")
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Students in the Itawamba Community College Honors Program now have a clear pathway to matriculate into the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College at Mississippi State University.
Leaders from MSU and ICC convened Friday [April 26] to sign a memorandum of understanding outlining a convenient process for ICC honors students to join the Shackouls Honors College upon transferring to MSU.
Under the new agreement, ICC students that are in good standing with the ICC Honors Program, carry a GPA of 3.4 or better and submit a letter of support from the honors program director, will be granted automatic admission to the Shackouls Honors College, contingent upon admission to MSU.
“We’ve had wonderful students come here from ICC and we’re very proud to have them,” MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Judy Bonner said. “We’ll do everything we can to ensure that this is a good partnership and that the students are the beneficiaries from this important relationship.”
The mission of the ICC Honors Program is to provide an innovative learning environment for gifted students by incorporating a rigorous curriculum, expanding knowledge through research, strengthening leadership abilities and fostering a sense of service to communities. Beginning this year, ICC students have a direct route for continuing that mission as honors students at MSU.
“This partnership allows our students to see the true alignment between their time at ICC in our honors program to their time at Mississippi State,” ICC President Jay Allen said. “Painting that path for them is going to be huge and will help them stay on track and realize the value of both.”
The Shackouls Honors College at MSU supports students as they pursue study abroad and undergraduate research opportunities, as well as prestigious external awards. The college also offers a rigorous and distinctive curriculum for students.
For more on Itawamba Community College, visit www.iccms.edu.
For more on the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College at MSU, visit www.honors.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.