New Partnership Aims to Increase Transfer and Completion Rates for Minority Students

Next COVID-19 Transfer, Mobility and Progress Update, April 8

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s COVID-19 Transfer, Mobility, and Progress Report, fall transfer student enrolment fell by 8.1% over the last year, which is more than triple the drop of enrollment in non-transfer students.

Student mobility has also fallen in all transfer pathways with a 19.4% decrease in reverse transfers, a decrease of 12.6% in lateral transfers, and a decrease of 0.7% in upward transfers. Black and Hispanic transfer students have been impacted most severely, particularly those enrolled at community colleges.

To improve transfer rates amongst minority student groups, such as African-American, Hispanic, adult, and first-generation students, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), have joined together in a partnership, called the Equity Transfer Initiative (ETI). The effort is funded by ECMC Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.

The goal is to increase completion rates for more than 6,000 minority students. Seventeen community colleges and 19 universities across 13 different states will participate.

“As a part of AACC’s Unfinished Business initiative, it is vitally important for community colleges to close the equity and achievement gaps. The Equity Transfer Initiative is designed to focus on new and evidence-based equity strategies that will ensure the successful completion of degrees that lead to family-sustaining wages,” AACC President and CEO Walter G. Bumphus said in a press release.

To learn more about the current state of student transfer and mobility rates, review the Research Center’s most recent report. The next update to the Transfer, Mobility and Progress report series is scheduled for Thursday, April 8.

“The Equity Transfer Initiative is designed to focus on new and evidence-based equity strategies that will ensure the successful completion of degrees that lead to family-sustaining wages.”

Walter G. Bumphus
AACC President and CEO

Additional Resources:

• Review COVID-19 Transfer, Mobility, and Progress Report

• Read Press Release Launching Transfer Report Series