PORTLAND – Graduates from the two-year Southern Maine Community College would automatically become juniors at the University of Southern Maine under a new program arranged by the two schools.

The program will guarantee that SMCC graduates may enroll at USM without applying to the university or meeting Scholastic Aptitude Testing requirements. Those that meet course requirements for an associate degree in liberal arts would become juniors at USM.

The agreement, known as the Associate of Arts Advantage program, is an attempt to reduce barriers between the state’s university system and the newly created community college system, which before this year was a technical college system.

School officials say the program will likely serve as a model that other community colleges and university campuses across the state can follow. Already, community colleges in York County and central Maine are working on similar agreements with USM, said Rosa Redonnett, the university’s vice president for enrollment management.

Officials from USM and SMCC said the new program will give students confidence early in their community college education that a four-year degree is an option.

“The focus of our programs is different, but our campuses share a common mission, which is to expand educational opportunities for the people of Maine,” USM President Richard Pattenaude said.

The program also allows SMCC students to spend time at USM, meet with counselors and register for class while still at SMCC.