Reverse Transfer: Where We Are, Where We’re Going

1. Reverse Transfer: Where We Are, Where We’re Going Tennessee ACT Summit January 29, 2013 Gloria Gammell, Ed.D. University of Tennessee

2. Project Collaborators • University of Tennessee • Tennessee Board of Regents • Tennessee Independent Colleges & University Association • Tennessee Higher Education Commission

3. What Is Reverse Transfer? A credit review of students who transfer from a community college to a four year institution prior to receipt of the associate’s degree to determine if and when the students complete the associate’s degree requirements and, if so, to award them an associate’s degree. --Reverse Transfer Taskforce, July 17, 2012

4. In a traditional college transfer model, credits are transferred froma 2-year schoolto a 4-year school; but • In a Reverse Transfer model, credits aretransferred backfrom the 4-year school to the two-year school so that student may earn the associate degree.

5. Background • Spring 2012 Tennessee PC 662 • Summer 2012 Grant submitted to Lumina/Kresge Foundations and a • Taskforce was established • Fall 2012 Grant not awarded—but we are moving forward!

6. Why Is Reverse Transfer Important? FACT: One third of all students change institutions (transfer) before earning a degree; the highest rate of transfer was during the 2nd year, no matter the direction of transfer. --Transfer & Mobility: A National View of Pre-Degree Student Movement in Postsecondary Institutions, National Student Clearinghouse, February 2012.

7. FACT: Since 2000-01academic year, 39,954 TN transfer students entered a four-year school absent the associate degree; 27,744 of those transfer students did not complete the bachelor’s degree and left college without any degree in hand. --THEC, 2012

8. FACT: Current Tennessee data suggest that receiving the associate’s degree has a positive impact on earning a bachelor’s degree. --THEC, 2012

9. FACT: Retention rates improved by 10% for those students who received an associate’s degree through Reverse Transfer once enrolled at a 4-year institution. --University of Texas, El Paso & El Paso Community College http://chronicle.com/article/Reverse-Transfer-Programs/127942/?sid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en accessed 0/15/2012

10. Benefits of Reverse Transfer for Students • Associate degree is a quality credential signifying completion of one level of educational goals;

11. Provides student with recognized credential to enter the workforce while completing a bachelor’s degree; • Provides a sense of accomplishment which is a motivator to persist to graduation; and

12. Decreases time to degree completion • Clear articulation agreements via TN Transfer Pathway (49 major areas of study) • Increased 4-year degree completion rate.

13. Benefits of Reverse Transfer for Institutions • Community colleges will be credited with the success of the student earning the degree retroactively; • Community college degree completions will more accurately reflect investment of time, support and resources devoted to students who transfer prior to degree attainment;

14. Closer transfer collaborations between 4-year and 2-year institutions via articulations; • Alumni who feel greater connection to the 2-year and 4-year institutions;

15. A more accurate reflection of graduation rates and achievements of community colleges; • Four-year institutions contribute to the State’s efforts to increase the number of degree completions (Complete College TN Act); and • Increased 2-year and 4-year graduation rates will positively impact funding at the public institutions.

16. Benefits of Reverse Transfer for Tennessee • Attainment of both the associate’s and bachelor’s degrees reflects a broader, more accurate portrayal of a person’s skills and training; and • Advances educational level of Tennesseans, which is necessary for continued economic and workforce development.

17. Community Colleges Will… • Build and maintain accuracy of equivalency tables; • Identify potential reverse degree recipients; • Verify successful completion of associate degree requirements; and • Notify student and award degree.

18. Four-Year Institutions Will… • Provide electronic transcripts for potential reverse degree recipients; • Collaborate with community colleges in development of equivalency tables as new reverse transfer options become available; • Assist potential reverse transfer recipients through academic advising.

19. THEC Will… • House and maintain the Reverse Transfer Server (3rd party); • Maintain the security of the stored data; • Monitor the progress of the Reverse Transfer processes and; • Collect and analyze student performance data (e.g., graduation rates, time to completion, demographics, etc.)

20. Basically, How Will It Work? • Automated process involving course equivalency tables, degree requirement verification, degree awarding, etc.; • Community college and 4-year institution each obtain permission from student to allow data exchange;

21. Community colleges and 4-year institutions create electronic transcripts that can be shared;

22. Community colleges identify potential reverse transfer degree recipients; • At specified intervals, community colleges and the 4-year institutions transmit their Electronic Transcripts to the Reverse Transfer Server;

23. Server automatically runs an evaluation for all student-matched transcripts against degree programs in the server’s database; • Community college receives results of evaluations;

24. Community college confirms degree requirements have been satisfied; • Student notified by community college And…..

25. Associate’s Degree is awarded!

26. Anticipated First RT Degree Class December 2013

27. QUESTIONS? ggammell@tennessee.edu