Transferring success, from community college to the Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø community
Of all the astonishing numbers in Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø's enrolling class this fall (including numbers of applicants, international students and students of color) the number 80 stands out. That's how many students chose to transfer to Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø from another school, whether a community college or another four-year institution.
This is the greatest number of new transfer students in 20 years. Why are they choosing Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø?
Often it comes down to better fit and better value. While a student¡¯s experience of "value" may start with scholarships and grants, that value expands to include the quality of the education, life in college and return on investment.
In short: transfer students recognize Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø as a valuable experience and investment in their future.
Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø's transfer success stands out amid a national trend of low transfer rates from community colleges to four-year colleges to complete a bachelor's degree. An Oct. 3, 2024, article in the Chronicle of Higher Education highlights a problem: the process for students transferring to universities is not straightforward. This is not the students' fault, and it¡¯s not the fault of community colleges, either:
The flawed transfer process is not a community-college problem, it is a public higher-education problem. Rather than blame community-college students or staff, as most previous efforts have done, the actions of individual students and community-college staff are considerably driven¡ªand constrained¡ªby a broader social order, where the ¡®rules of the game¡¯ are often set by universities.
Transfer students, however, are not lost in a process at Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡ªa college known for strong relationships that empower students to greater confidence and success. This is a community that reaches out and welcomes in. For transfers, it often begins with Rachel Gustafson in admissions.
¡°Among community colleges, the word is spreading that transferring to Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø is a smooth process, and can open doors to so many opportunities,¡± Gustafson said. Thirty of Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s 80 new transfer students came from Black Hawk Community Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø in the Quad Cities¡¯ Moline, Illinois.
¡°We also are seeing an increase in transfers from other four-year colleges, as priorities shift and students gain a clearer understanding of what they want, including a more supportive environment and vibrant community,¡± she added.
Gustafson points to Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s bold new financial aid program, Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible, as eye-opening for students who realize Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø can work for them financially. Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for qualifying students, including transfer students.
This fall, all 80 of Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø's new transfer students received scholarships and grants from the college, and one in four received grants from Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible.
If you have any questions about Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø or transferring to the college, please contact Rachel Gustafson.