A Win-Win for Ohio’s Community Colleges Reverse Transfer A Win-Win for Ohio’s Community Colleges Mary Whitt, Academic Advisor Arts & Sciences Division, Columbus State Community College

What Is It? Overview of Reverse Transfer

What is it? The Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Credit When It’s Due process identifies students who: Enrolled in one of Ohio’s public universities to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the last semester reported to the state. Have earned at least 45 college-level semester credit hours at Ohio public universities or colleges. Have earned at least 20 college-level semester credit hours from a participating two- year institution. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at their current university. Have not received an associate or a bachelor’s degree from Ohio public institutions. Students are contacted by their “home” university and are required to give permission for their records to be released. Once the records are received by the community college, they are evaluated for graduation. Students are notified regarding their status.

6/3/2016 Some statistics … 1002 Ohio students earned degrees through Reverse Transfer during the years 2013-2015 out of the 34,035 degrees awarded. A 1.2% increase due to RT 72% of students with associate’s degrees finished bachelor’s degrees vs. 56% of students who did not earn an associate’s degree first. For the years 2013-2016, 1765 students were evaluated for Reverse Transfer at CSCC and so far, 741 have received degrees. 75% of 49,758 students enrolled in Ohio universities after community college left before receiving their degree According to the Census Bureau, over an adult's working life, high school graduates earn an average of $1.2 million; associate's degree holders earn about $1.6 million, Earning them $400,000 more than someone with just a high school diploma. Sources: Lumina Foundation, 2016 US Census via University of Hawaii Community College Week, 11/2015 CSCC

How Does It Work? Reverse Transfer @ CSCC

Formal Process Official process as outlined in Ohio Articulation and Transfer Policy- “Credit Where It’s Due”. Most students are identified and evaluated through this process. All paperwork (subs, DARS, petitions to graduate, and other) completed on student’s behalf by CSCC. Largest group is from the Ohio State University, but current group includes students from Central State University, Franklin University, and Otterbein University. University/Student/Advisor initiated. University Contacts Student Transcript Release Transcript Evaluation DARS Review Advising Review CSCC Contacts Student

Informal Process Student contacts CSCC Advisor Review PTG Used when student contacts CSCC directly. Advisor requests unofficial documentation before official documentation request sent to reduce time, effort, etc. Can be from any college or university (as long as student meets residency and other degree requirements). If student meets qualifications, they may be included in official reverse transfer database or they will be directed to current student procedure (formal petition to graduate current or future semester). Student contacts CSCC Advisor Review PTG

Alternative Process Developed by Arts & Sciences divisional advisors to address students leaving CSCC prior to graduation. Good for students who need to transfer before degree to maximize efforts at four- year university, who require an institutional GPA, or seek to enter competitive programs. Advisor typically initiates conversation regarding Reverse Transfer. Notes are kept on each student contact. If an advisor chooses, a form may be completed to document process. Forms are scanned into shared folder on shared drive. Students may still be “caught” in the official “formal” process at a later time, but are told to contact an advisor when courses are complete or the original advisor may follow up.

Transfer to Bachelor’s Bachelor’s course work Advisor Review PTG Alternative Process Advising for RT Transfer to Bachelor’s Bachelor’s course work Advisor Review PTG

What Can I Do? Influences on Advising @ CSCC with Reverse Transfer

Formal Process for Reverse Transfer Good things… Bad things… Headed by committee, including one advisor, allows for smooth workflow without interruption of current student work. Streamlined communication and information gathering- one advisor, one evaluator, etc. Familiarity with CSCC and transfer institution course work and policy- more flexible substitutions in degrees made after transfer. 80% of RT degrees from CSCC required course subs or new articulations. Timing is usually during common busy periods. Does not catch all students who would meet criteria. Students ignore communication from home institution. 6307 students contacted for RT in Ohio and only 1464 responded More demands- a new problem! Source: Office of Community College Research and Leadership CWID report, 2015

Informal Process for Reverse Transfer Love: HATE: More casual with regards to timing and contact with student. Informal review and advising of courses at home institution before course is completed. Referrals not always good- from the students themselves, from other advisors. Requires multiple contacts and diligence as advisor must instruct and follow up with student on process.

Alternative Process for Reverse Transfer KEEP TOSS Allows for information sharing/gathering in the context of a regular advising contact prior to student transfer. Advising of course selection at destination pre-transfer ensuring faster completion of course work and degree. Advisor follow up can be easier as contact info current. Relies on student to do the work or relies on advisor to make sure the work is done and keep up communication and records. May get mixed up in the formal process – depending on destination.

An Advisor’s Perspective… OSU is our biggest population, because our AA/AS degrees closely resemble their general education requirement and it’s our most popular transfer destination. An example: Ohio University sent a total of 17 students for review in 2013 and 2014 and only 6 earned an associate’s degree. During same period, OSU sent 858 students for review and 508 earned degrees. Students from other colleges, public and private, may benefit from a more informal or alternative process to take advantage of the program due to the larger role a CC advisor may take in assisting the student with course selection prior to or after transfer. Control of information and communication is problematic due to multiple entry points. A long-term solution is needed to control messages. Future plans call for a CSCC FAQ customized to our population, current and future, and a comprehensive website to allow for information gathering. Previously relying on universities to communicate. Workflow is an issue. A large influx of returning students at the same time as current student busy periods.

What Can I Do? Look to local partner institutions and create relationships for reverse transfer. Establish a line of communication for students strictly for reverse transfer through a common email box, a directed phone contact, point person, etc. Speak to fellow advisors at your college about reverse transfer and train them on what it is and what to say to students during regular advising contacts, if appropriate. Work with faculty, chairpersons, deans, and other administrators on course substitutions and other related curricular issues. Work to streamline process. Don’t be afraid of working with private institutions. Talk to students before they leave your college. Make graduation a priority in the conversation- no matter if it’s before or after they transfer. Keep good notes regarding substitutions, key programs, and the like.

Thank you! Questions?