The recent “Beyond Transfers” article has generated a lot of attention and discussion among many in the transfer community, including those of us involved with transfers at Virginia. The response to these articles demonstrates how complex transfer is, and while we may not all agree, the importance of this work is undeniable. One state has taken steps to reduce complexity and clarify transfer situations for students and colleges.
Although narrow in scope, the article “Transfer Credit Myths: Everything We Know About Excess Credit May Be Wrong” highlights several important aspects of transfer credit that should be reiterated: Early and consistent academic planning support is imperative. Additionally, we know that program changes, prerequisites, and financial aid depletion can have serious impacts on a student’s progress, regardless of whether the student transfers. Furthermore, as highlighted in the response article, we cannot forget the national and system-level policies that may influence these efforts, for better or worse.
Recognizing these complexities, Virginia passed legislation to improve transfer in 2018, which addresses three elements: general education, transfer pathways, and the state transfer tool. In response, the Virginia Transfer Program was created through a partnership between the State Commission on Higher Education Virginia (SCHEV), the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), and two- and four-year institutions. The goal is to remove barriers while increasing credit efficiency, reducing transfer time and increasing degree attainment rates.
- General education: Created a two-year institutional general education program called the Uniform Certificate of General Education (UCGS) for lower-level general education at all Virginia public four-year institutions and many participating private four-year institutions.
- Transfer route: Developed to provide the foundation for transfer pathways (or transfer guides for students), the common curriculum was created to map associate degree programs, including UCGS, to bachelor’s degree programs to enhance credit efficiency and applicability. Each guide contains a curriculum section that shows students exactly what to study at two-year institutions and the remaining requirements at four-year institutions for a true 2+2. There is also a Transfer Guidance section that includes information about college/university, majors, admissions (including guaranteed admission), as well as important dates, deadlines, and links to serve as a one-stop shop for transfer information. There are currently more than 500 transfer guides representing more than 30 pathways to four-year institutions, with approximately 150 to 200 guides submitted each year. These methods are very effective when students determine their transfer plans. For those who want to explore further, these and many other resources are available in the portal.
- State transfer tools: Officially launching in 2021, the Virginia Transfer Portal is designed to be a powerful repository that can assist students at any stage of their higher education journey, including dual enrollment. The portal provides standardized information on more than 60 Virginia colleges (two- and four-year, public and private) in one place. Users can compare institutions, explore program listings, find colleges offering their majors, see how their coursework transfers, create a portfolio and connect directly with transfer experts.
For states looking to effect change, a good starting point is to identify commonalities between general education courses at two- and four-year institutions to develop a statewide pathway. However, this work cannot be done in silos. Cooperation and commitment from two- and four-year institutions as well as state administrative agencies are critical. For Virginia, legislation sparked the initiative, but teamwork among all stakeholders keeps the momentum going.
