Dr. Michael Simon, Angelina College president, pictured left, and Dr. Neal Weaver, Stephen F. Austin State University president, sign a partnership agreement launching Jacks Jumpstart Feb. 3. The alternative admissions program helps first-semester freshmen at AC who narrowly miss meeting SFA admissions requirements when they initially apply by creating an affordable pathway to transfer to the university within one academic year.
February 4, 2026 - The latest partnership between Stephen F. Austin State University and Angelina College has created Jacks Jumpstart, an alternative admissions program for first-semester freshmen at AC who narrowly miss meeting SFA admissions requirements when they initially apply but are working toward transferring to the university.
Officials from both schools launched the Jacks Jumpstart program at a Feb. 3 signing agreement ceremony on the SFA campus. They emphasized that AC students who complete this program are eligible to transfer to SFA within one academic year without reapplying.
“This program is going to impact students who are graduating from high school this May,” said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA president. “Students can apply one time to SFA and pay one fee, and they can be accepted to Angelina College, successfully complete the Jacks Jumpstart requirements and automatically be accepted by SFA. They don’t have to fill out the paperwork again, and they don’t have to pay more money. I know that students from both AC and SFA and their families will see the benefits of this.”
To join the program, students invited by SFA must opt in by May 1 and be “college ready,” according to the Texas Success Initiative. To transfer to SFA without reapplying or paying additional application fees, these students must complete 15 to 30 semester hours of transferable core classes at AC and earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA within one academic year. AC offers these core classes online and in person.
“One of our priorities as a community college is making sure that students can access higher education and move through the system as affordably as possible, and we know that value is important to SFA as well,” said Dr. Michael Simon, AC president. “Between the Lumberjack Transfer Alliance agreement and this program, every door is open for students to pursue an education and become better, more employable citizens.”
Krista Brown, vice president of student services at AC, said Jacks Jumpstart will impact students outside East Texas as well.
“We worked hard with IT, our deans and other teams to ensure these core classes are offered not only in person but also online because this partnership doesn’t affect just local students,” Brown said. “It affects students across Texas and beyond. We’re thrilled to be able to provide access to them in a very affordable way to get their core requirements to transfer back to SFA.”
For more information on Jacks Jumpstart, email JacksJumpstart@angelina.edu or visit sfasu.edu/apply/first-year/alt.
