Southern Maine Community College in South Portland and the University of Southern Maine have signed a new agreement designed to benefit students at both institutions.

The new initiative, Connected Pathways, will allow students at the community college to seamlessly transfer to the university without going through a formal application process. The two institutions have approved 11 new transfer agreements between selected community college academic programs and complementary programs at the university, removing hurdles and paperwork for students that will save them time and money.

In a separate initiative, Southern Maine Community College and the University of Southern Maine have enhanced their respective hospitality programs by sharing a full-time faculty position that provides services to students at both schools.

Under the new hospitality management arrangement, the two schools have hired Maureen LaSalle to teach courses at both the community college and the university while providing advising services to community college students who are transferring to the university’s four-year tourism and hospitality degree program.

Ron Cantor, left, president of the Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, and Glenn Cummings, president of the University of Southern Maine, sign a series of new agreements designed to support student success.