What they're saying: "I was convinced CC was out of my reach," transfer student Sami Koller said during the partnership signing ceremony in April.

• Koller transferred to CC last fall after earning her associate degree at PPSC. She plans to earn a bachelor's degree in geology.
• "I was a nontraditional student, attending a then-community college, and I was certain I was not the kind of student private institutions were looking for. I had accepted that I was not smart enough to apply," Koller said at the event.

How it works: Through the partnership, PPSC students who earn an associate degree with at least a 3.3 GPA can be considered for admission to CC.

• CC will provide academic advising to prospective transfer students. Admitted students can also apply for financial aid.

The bottom line: "This program is designed to help [students] expand their opportunities in ways that perhaps they didn't see before," CC president Manya Whitaker told KKTV.