A new twist in select Lone Star College-Montgomery classes will let students see beyond the community college classroom—literally—via in-class videoconferencing sessions or face-to-face meetings with other students at local universities.
 
It’s LSC-Montgomery’s “University Connections Series,” a group of classes where LSC-Montgomery students will interact electronically and/or in-person with the professor and students from classes in similar disciplines from Lamar University, Prairie View A&M University, Sam Houston State University, and Texas A&M University.
 
“The goal is to assist our students in seeing themselves beyond LSC-Montgomery,” said Matthew Samford, academic counselor at LSC-Montgomery. “Students will be able to get a taste for university-level academics and connect with those who are living the university life.”
 
During the semester, each participating class will connect with its university counterpart to collaborate on projects, interact with each other, and share knowledge. Students enrolled in these LSC-Montgomery sections will cover the same learning outcomes as in a traditional class and earn the same three credit hours upon successful completion.
 
LSC-Montgomery professor Mark Stelter will be connecting his Introduction to Criminal Justice course (CRIJ 1301.4005) with Sam Houston State University’s Criminal Justice Research Methods course, which is taught by Dr. William (Bill) Wells.
 
“Both sets of students will see a great combination of current salient issues in the field and applied academic research,” said Stelter. “In my course, students study U.S. crime rates and trends. Dr. Wells will show how such data is gathered, analyzed, and assessed in ways much richer and deeper than our course normally has time to cover.”
 
Dr. Wells sees benefits for both groups of students as well.
 
“SHSU students will gain a better appreciation of research methods by interacting with the Lone Star College students who are learning core elements about the criminal justice system and the nature of crime,” said Wells. “I’m excited to share criminal justice and criminological research with Lone Star College students. I hope they will become interested in learning more.”
 
The following course sections are part of the University Connections Series in the spring:
 
Introduction to Criminal Justice (CRIJ 1301.4005) – connecting with SHSU
Composition & Rhetoric I (ENGL 1301.4012) – connecting to Prairie View A&M
Microeconomics (ECON 2302.4006) – connecting to Lamar University
Introduction to the Teaching Profession (EDUC 1301.4001) – connecting to Texas A&M
 
Introduction to Criminal Justice is one of four classes being piloted as part of the University Connection Series. The other courses are Composition & Rhetoric I (ENGL 1301.4012) - connecting to Prairie View A&M; Microeconomics (ECON 2302.4006) - connecting to Lamar University; and Introduction to the Teaching Profession (EDUC 1301.4001) - connecting to Texas A&M.
 
This series of courses supports LSC-Montgomery’s Maverick Transfer, Recruitment, and Career (TRAC) Center’s initiative to encourage and support students’ transfer and career goals. It is anticipated that further university connections will be added for the fall 2014 semester.  
 
For more information, contact Matthew Samford at (936) 273.7341, or Matthew.T.Samford@LoneStar.edu.
 
Registration for the University Connection Series courses, as well as all spring semester classes began on Monday, November 18, and will continue through January 11, 2014. Students may search for classes and register online at www.LoneStar.edu/registration.
 
In-person registration and advising services are also available at LSC-Montgomery on Monday-Tuesday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. -1 p.m. in the Student Services Center (Bldg. C).
 
For more information about registration, contact the office of student services at (936) 273-7236.
 
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call 936.273.7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.
 
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.