RICHARDSON, Texas (Oct. 24, 2006) — Parents and students can save thousands of dollars on future tuition through The University of Texas at Dallas’ new Comet Connection.  The program was announced Tuesday in conjunction with the signing of an agreement with the Dallas County Community College District.

Students who sign up for the Comet Connection can count on their tuition not increasing for four years – even if they defer enrollment by starting classes at a community college.


UTD President Dr. David Daniel and Dr. Wright
Lassiter,
chancellor of the Dallas County Community College
District,
sign a dual enrollment agreement Tuesday. The pact will allow students
attending any DCCCD school to enroll concurrently at UT Dallas
and transfer
seamlessly to the university.

Photo courtesy of Ray Campbell, DCCCD Office of Marketing and Communications

Locking in tuition at the current year’s rate helps reduce the overall cost of a college education, said Sheila Amin Gutiérrez de Piñeres, associate provost for enrollment services.  Without the guaranteed tuition, enrollment costs are expected to increase from 6 percent to 12 percent annually over the next four years.

“Together the Comet Connection and the guaranteed tuition plan offer students a unique advantage in that they can predict the cost of their education at UT Dallas and also be a part of the UT Dallas community,” Piñeres said.

Comet Connection participants will also receive an ID card that entitles them to enrollment benefits such as:

  • One-on-one access to UT Dallas academic advisors
  • Access to the Health Professions Advising Center (www.utdallas.edu/pre-health), Pre-Law Advising and Resource Center (www.utdallas.edu/pre-law) and sponsored activities
  • Access to campus libraries through the Tex Share program as well as use of the public terminal at the McDermott Library
  • Comet Connection student rates for campus athletic, cultural and social activities
  • Access to enrollment services events

To capture the most tuition savings, students sign the Comet Connection agreement as early as their first semester at community college.  Then, after completing at least 30 credit hours, they can apply for admission to UT Dallas and take up to a year after acceptance to enroll in classes.

Participating schools include members of the Dallas and Collin county community college districts.

“We welcome The University of Texas at Dallas as a partner with our district,” Chancellor Dr. Wright Lassiter said.  “Some DCCCD students – particularly those who attend Richland – already enjoy the benefits of similar agreements with UT Dallas for specific academic fields at the college level.  We are excited about the additional opportunities that this agreement provides for all DCCCD students.”

UTD President Dr. David Daniel added, “We also welcome DCCCD students to UTD’s campus family, and we look forward to working with them as they pursue their bachelor’s degrees and perhaps graduate studies as well.”

For more information on the Comet Connection, or to receive an updated list of participating community colleges, call the Comet One Stop at 972-883-2270 and ask for an admissions counselor. Or visit www.utdallas.edu/connect.

Additional information about tuition programs at each University of Texas campus can be found on the UT Systems website. Go to www.utsystem.edu/news/tuition and click on Key Features & Innovations.

About UT Dallas

The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor®, enrolls more than 14,500 students.  The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores.  The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs.  For additional information about UT Dallas, please visit the university’s website at www.utdallas.edu.