One State's Collaborative Efforts to Improve Transfer

"Recent "Beyond Transfer" articles have garnered a lot of attention and discussion among many in the transfer world, including those of us involved in transfer work in Virginia. The reactions to these articles demonstrate just how complex transfer is, and while we may not all agree, the importance of the work is undeniable. One state has taken steps to reduce the complexity and clarify transfer for students and colleges."

"The article " The Transfer Credit Myth: How Everything We Know About Excess Credits May Be Wrong," while narrow in scope, highlighted several important aspects of transfer that should be reiterated: Early and consistent academic planning support is imperative. Additionally, we know program changes, prerequisites and financial aid exhaustion can have serious implications to progress whether a student transferred or not. Furthermore, as highlighted in a response article, we cannot forget about state- and system-level policies that may impact these efforts, for better or worse."

"In recognition of these complexities, Virginia passed legislation in 2018 to improve transfer, which addressed three elements: general education, transfer pathways and a state transfer tool. In response and through a collaborative effort between the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and two- and four-year institutions, the Transfer Virginia initiative was born. Its goal is to remove barriers while improving credit efficiency, reducing time to transfer and boosting degree-attainment rates."

Recent debates have revealed that transfer is complex and that clear, coordinated policies and supports are needed. Early and consistent academic planning and advising are imperative to prevent excess credits. Program changes, prerequisites, and financial aid exhaustion can disrupt student progress regardless of transfer status. State- and system-level policies can facilitate or impede transfer improvements. Virginia enacted 2018 legislation addressing general education, transfer pathways, and a statewide transfer tool. A statewide collaborative initiative among SCHEV, VCCS, and two- and four-year institutions aims to remove barriers, improve credit efficiency, shorten time to transfer, and increase degree completion. A Uniform Certificate of General Studies standardizes lower-level general education.

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