A number of institutions across the country are undertaking efforts that target transfer students—recruiting them and making transfer easier:
- See the October 14 Education Dive article on making transfers easier between two- and four-year institutions. Data show that more than 50,000 students each year who could succeed at a four-year institution do not transfer, too often because of uncertainty about the process, cost, and transfer of credits. Two institutions in Ohio—University of Dayton and Sinclair Community College—have collaborated to create an “academy” that streamlines transfer for two-year students by offering cost transparency, fee waivers, and providing academic advisers for smooth credit transfer.
- The New York Times profiles efforts by four-year institutions—even some elite schools—to bring talent and diversity to their campuses by courting students from two-year colleges. This is a shift in thinking about community colleges and their students as well as a new strategy to increase enrollment.
- A September article in Inside HigherEd showcased “transfer minors,” a policy that recognizes credits earned—and learning achieved—in a very innovative way. Often when associate degree students transfer, many of their credits are deemed “elective” because they don’t fit into the new school’s major programs; this learning can go unrecognized on a student’s transcript. Rhode Island College has come up with a plan that addresses this issue and also seeks to attract transfer students and increase the satisfaction level of community college transfers.