A new report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) indicates that while 8,836 entering students at 40 community colleges around the country indicate that they intend to transfer to a four-year institution, the number that actually do is remarkably low.
"Helping Community College Students Climb the Transfer Ladder" is based on the 2022 Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE).
Dr. Linda L. Garcia, executive director of CCCSE, said conversations about transfer must begin at the onset of a student’s time at a community college. Waiting until a student is close to completing an associate degree to discuss what needs to be done to successfully transfer to a four-year institution is ineffective.
The report noted that 35% of respondents said they knew the four-year institution to which they wanted to transfer and what they would study, and 93% of those students had already selected a program, major or pathway of study at their community college. Many of those students had to find information about how to successfully prepare for transferring through their own efforts, rather than have that presented to them upon enrollment at the community college.
“It’s a hard process navigate,” said Garcia. “Community colleges have transfer advising and articulation agreements, but these agreements evolve and change. That’s why it’s important to have communication with the student right at the beginning.”
Dr. Linda Garcia
One student mentioned using the website Transferology after learning about it from an advisor.
