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Transfer Practices Review

Simplify the Transfer Process

Research shows that over one-third of students transfer at least once before earning a bachelor’s degree. To promote successful outcomes for these students, institutions must provide a streamlined process of credit transfers, removing barriers that make it easier for students to move between colleges and universities.

Effective articulation and partnership agreements are critical to the success of transfer practices. Creating agreements, however, requires expertise and resources many institutions may not readily have on hand. Equally important are effective transfer credit evaluation policies and practices, and transfer orientation and support programs. Our Transfer Practices Review equips you with the intelligence and recommendations you need to simplify your transfer processes, build better articulation and partnership agreements and improve transfer student success.

Your Transfer Practices, Improved

We’ll tailor your review to the unique needs and environment of your institution, and focus on those areas most critical to your success. We begin by completing a thorough review of your current transfer and articulation process. This includes a deep-dive into your credit assessment rules to ensure your institution follows standardized articulation practices, as well as your plans and policies for transfer student success.

You’ll emerge from your Transfer Practices Review with practical recommendations and action items to:

  • Recruit and retain transfer students at higher success rates
  • Unify your institution in a coordinated effort to support transfer student success
  • Develop streamlined partnership agreements that incorporate articulation, financial aid, student services, admissions, records keeping, and other functions
  • Develop a roadmap for transforming your degree offerings, including mapping associate’s degrees to bachelor’s degrees and two-year degrees to four-year degrees
  • Improve your transfer process with the use of technology tools such as eTranscripts
  • Maximize staffing resources, office space and location to better serve transfer students

If needed, we are also available to assist with implementing any of our recommendations to ensure they are completed in a timely, efficient manner.

Contact AACRAO Consulting today to begin your Transfer Practices Review, and simplify the transfer process for your students and staff.

Related Resources

State University of New York at Fredonia (Fredonia)

Location: Fredonia, NY

Objective:

A comprehensive, public, liberal arts university in Western New York, Fredonia serves more than 4,600 students on its beautiful residential campus that blends intimate learning with a wide range of academic programs. In 2015, Fredonia contacted AACRAO Consulting to guide them through the process of taking a more strategic approach to its enrollment efforts. Beyond improving enrollment numbers, Fredonia wanted to align enrollment with the university’s overall vision and mission.

Challenge:

Fredonia had a strategic plan in place; however, it did not include any cohesive or complementary strategies around enrollment. After multiple years of decline in enrollment  numbers, the university knew it needed to reassess the way it was approaching recruitment and enrollment. To date, the university had been chasing the latest trend-of-the-moment in an effort to boost enrollment numbers. But without a cohesive strategy in place, these one-off efforts had generated few positive results.

Fredonia realized it needed a new model for enrollment management. Familiar with AACRAO Consulting’s expertise in Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM), Fredonia reached out to the organization for help in paving the way for SEM planning that would support sustainable enrollment gains for long-term institutional vitality.

Solution:

AACRAO Consulting came to the Fredonia campus to conduct a series of interviews with faculty and staff to gather feedback as well as make a case for a SEM approach. AACRAO Consultants additionally analyzed years of the university’s enrollment data to develop a clearer picture of trends, challenges, and opportunities. Once the interviews and analysis were complete, AACRAO Consulting developed and presented a report outlining actionable recommendations around expanding the university’s enrollment reach beyond the current service area; clearly differentiating Fredonia from the competition; and ensuring the university remained an affordable option for prospective students.

AACRAO Consulting also provided recommendations for increased retention, including engaging all faculty and staff in supporting student success; re-evaluating policies that were inhibiting student success; engaging all students in the university experience; and revising the curriculum to simplify choices and provide clearer degree pathways.

Results:

Following AACRAO Consulting’s report, Fredonia established a SEM Steering Committee comprised of leadership, faculty, and staff. Additional committees focused on recruitment, retention, and data-sharing were also formed to ensure a cohesive, collaborative, and unified approach to implementing a SEM plan.

Fredonia has already seen positive results from AACRAO Consulting’s recommendations. Enrollment and student services have improved. Recruiters have also been able to respond more quickly to prospective students with faster decision times.

In fall 2019, Fredonia experienced a 2 percent increase in applications, while other universities in the SUNY family experienced decreases. The Fredonia student body is diversifying to include more first-generation college students, and the university is now focusing its efforts on improving retention for the new students they’ve attracted.

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One of the big plusses of working with AACRAO Consulting is that their people have extensive experience in the field. They are seasoned professionals who have been in my shoes, and know how to work with culture and change in the real-world operation of an institution. They also understand the need for recommendations to be actionable. I appreciated their ability to dissect the situation, get right to the meat of the issue, and prioritize implementation. Their insight and guidance proved invaluable in helping us manage change. I couldn’t have asked for more empathic and professional consultants.

—Luisa Havens Gerardo, PhD, Vice Provost, Enrollment Management, Virginia Tech University

Contact an AACRAO Consultant today with questions.

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