Jacksonville, AL – Jacksonville State University and Central Alabama Community College (CACC) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at expanding transfer opportunities, simplifying enrollment procedures and increasing access to scholarship support for students pursuing bachelor’s degrees.
Jax State President Dr. Don C. Killingsworth Jr. and CACC President Jeff Lynn signed the agreement Tuesday morning during a ceremony on the Jacksonville State campus.
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between the two institutions, with an emphasis on improving the transfer of academic credits and making the transition from community college to a four-year university more accessible. The institutions also plan to explore additional agreements involving specific academic programs.
The partnership builds on Jax State’s existing transfer pathways, which allow students enrolled in designated programs at participating community colleges to apply eligible credits toward bachelor’s degrees.
As part of the agreement, CACC students will become eligible for Jax State’s Presidential Transfer Leadership Scholarship. Established in fall 2025, the competitive scholarship provides full tuition to one qualifying transfer student from each of Jax State’s Alabama Community College System partners. The award is renewable for one additional year, covering a maximum of four semesters.
For Killingsworth, the agreement also represents a personal connection to his educational background. He began his college education at Central Alabama Community College while working full time.
“This partnership is especially meaningful to me because Central Alabama is where I started,” Killingsworth said. “Our goal is to make sure CACC students know there is a path forward at Jax State, no matter where they are in their academic journey. We want to help make that transition as seamless as possible and provide opportunities for students to continue their education and achieve their goals.”
Killingsworth said the agreement would allow both institutions to evaluate additional opportunities for cooperation as student needs and academic programs evolve.
“This agreement gives us the opportunity to look at what makes sense for students and work together to build those connections,” he said. “As new opportunities emerge, we want to be a partner that helps CACC students take that next step in their academic journey.”
Lynn described the agreement as an opportunity to provide CACC students with additional educational options and greater flexibility when transferring to a four-year institution.
“We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Jacksonville State University. This agreement is a major step forward in providing CACC students with more opportunities and greater flexibility as they pursue their educational and career goals,” Lynn said. “By creating a smoother transition to JSU, we’re helping our students continue their education with confidence and setting them up for long-term success.”
During the signing ceremony, representatives discussed potential areas for future collaboration, including nursing, education and academic programs connected to emerging workforce needs. Those discussions were exploratory, and specific program-level agreements have not yet been announced.
The institutions plan to continue identifying academic areas where coordinated transfer pathways could benefit students. The broader agreement provides a starting point for those discussions but does not establish a timeline for additional program-specific partnerships.
Applications for spring and fall 2027 admission to Jacksonville State University are currently open.
