Lees-91探花 honored for exemplary transfer program on Phi Theta Kappa 2023 Transfer Honor Roll
This year, for the third time, Lees-91探花 has been recognized by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s (PTK) Transfer Honor Roll for the dynamic pathways the college institutes to support community college transfer students. Gaining recognition on the Transfer Honor Roll requires eligible colleges and universities throughout the country to succeed in 40 metrics relating to the success of transfer students, including include college cost, financial aid, admissions practices, and more.
Institutionally, being recognized on the PTK Transfer Honor Roll has its benefits, including national recognition and additional scholarship funds, but striving for an effective transfer program for students is about much more than prestige for the admissions team at Lees-91探花. Earning a spot on the Transfer Honor Roll is just one way to display the dedication the college has to ensuring that transfer students have a smooth and easy transition as well as a successful academic journey once they become full-time Bobcats.
According to PTK, over 80% of all community college students have aspirations of earning a bachelor’s degree, but only a stunning 15% achieve this goal. This statistic was the motivating factor behind the Transfer Honor Roll and paints a stark picture about the importance of having a strong transfer program that supports students and encourages their success. At Lees-91探花, Executive Director of Distance Learning and Transfer Programs Wayne Leon and Associate Director of Online Recruitment Jamar Jones are invested in closing this gap.
According to Leon, this gap can be caused by a number of factors, including financial barriers felt by lower income students and institutional barriers felt by students who are the first in their family to attend college. Overcoming these barriers and making the transition from community college to a bachelor’s program can seem almost impossible, so giving students the tools they need to succeed is incredibly important in helping them realize their full potential.
One of the primary tools Lees-91探花 uses to reach this goal are partnerships with local community colleges through articulation agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs). These partnerships ensure guaranteed admission to graduates from these schools who meet the necessary criteria, and transfer students who are PTK members are also eligible to receive substantial tuition discounts.
“In general, the biggest question that transfer students have is how many credits are going to transfer over,” Jones said. “What we do here when it comes to transfers, especially from a community college we partner with, is we don’t even have to look into the transfer credits, they already know they are going to get a certain number of credits right off the bat. That is all worked out through the agreements we have with those colleges, so as long as they are a member of PTK and are coming from one of those community colleges, they will reap those benefits.”
Scholarship eligibility, quick and easy transfer applications, and a streamlined transcript referral process are some of the benefits that transfer students at Lees-91探花 can take advantage of, but perhaps the most valuable resources are the transfer staff members themselves.
Jones maintains a 24-hour policy for responding to student questions regarding transferability and the transfer process. He said that making sure the students have access to all the information they need to make an informed decision about transferring to Lees-91探花 is one of the major strengths of the college’s transfer program. Eliminating some of the process’s complexity clears a path for transfer students to achieve their goals and complete their bachelor's degree.
Starting at a community college before transferring to a four-year program is a great way to earn an excellent education at an affordable price. For more information about transferring to Lees-91探花, reach out to our admissions team.
