Pictured: Dr. Austin Lane, SIU Carbondale chancellor, and Dr. Charlotte Warren, LLCC president, following their signing of the Saluki Step Ahead agreement.

Contact: Lynn Whalen, 217-786-2219

SPRINGFIELD — Officials of Lincoln Land Community College and Southern Illinois University Carbondale today signed an agreement allowing LLCC graduates to complete bachelor’s degrees remotely at an affordable cost.

The Saluki Step Ahead program offers students the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, criminology and criminal justice, health care management, psychology and radiologic sciences by spending the first two years at LLCC completing pre-determined coursework. The third and fourth years are online in an SIU Carbondale degree completion program. Students will receive an $8,000 scholarship ($4,000 per year) as a financial incentive for place-bound students, with the goal of completing a bachelor's degree for less than $25,000. 

“This partnership is a wonderful opportunity for LLCC students to earn an associate degree with us and then receive automatic admission to SIU Carbondale to earn their bachelor’s degree, while remaining in their hometown to live and work,” said Dr. Charlotte Warren, LLCC president.

LLCC is the first community college in central Illinois, and fourth community college in the state, to sign on to Saluki Step Ahead, which brings the expertise of a doctoral research university to place-bound community college students in Illinois. 

“For working adults and other students with limited options, this is a game-changer and opens new pathways with a smooth transition between our two institutions,” said Dr. Austin Lane, chancellor, SIU Carbondale. “Many community college students can’t uproot their lives and come to Carbondale to earn their bachelor’s degrees. We’re taking SIU Carbondale to them in an accessible and affordable way.” 

Students interested in participating in the Saluki Step Ahead program should speak with a success coach at LLCC.