Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF announced a new agreement Tuesday that will give students at the schools continued access to classes on both campuses.

The agreement gives SU students unlimited access to State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry classes, and introduces a new process for ESF students who want to take courses at SU, according to a Tuesday SU News release.

ESF and SU students have always been allowed to take classes at both schools, but the new formalized agreement allows the schools to better plan for the number of students taking their classes, said Erin Kane, SU associate vice president for public relations.

“It was time to revisit (the policy), so both schools sat down and said, ‘What makes sense?’” Kane said.

Starting in the next academic year, first-year ESF students will receive 16 SU credit hours to be used during their time at ESF. These will be covered by their ESF tuition and fees, according to the release.

Current ESF students will receive a minimum of four SU credit hours and will also have a chance to petition for additional hours needed to complete their degree, according to the release.

The exact number of SU credits that ESF transfer students and upperclassmen receive will be calculated based on year and previous SU credits used, Kane said.

For example, officials will look at how a particular ESF student has used SU credits in the past, as well as what classes he or she may need to complete their degree, Kane said.

ESF graduate students will be allocated 15 SU credit hours, according to the release.

The formula for credit allocations was calculated based on the average number of SU credit hours ESF students have taken in recent years. ESF students often take SU classes to complete elective courses or general education requirements in the liberal arts, according to the release.

Students who have used their SU credit allocation will have the option to pay tuition in order to take additional SU classes, according to the release.

More than 1,300 students from ESF and SU take classes at the opposite university. This spring, 440 ESF students are taking SU classes and 210 SU students are enrolled in ESF classes, according to the release.

Although the new procedures primarily affect ESF students, Kane said the agreement also benefits SU students.

Said Kane: “ESF is top-rated in the things that they do, so this is also a great opportunity for SU students.”

Published on February 5, 2013 at 11:42 pm

Contact Jessica: jliannet@syr.edu | @JessicaIannetta