NASHVILLE—Graduation has come unexpectedly for 341 community college transfer students, thanks to Tennessee’s new reverse transfer program and commitment to helping more students earn college degrees.
“When I opened the email, I started to cry,” said Dana Lilly. “There was a time when I thought all I would ever have was a high school diploma.”
Lilly graduated May 9 with a bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University and learned May 29 that her efforts also earned her an associate degree from Northeast State Community College in Blountville, Tennessee. That’s where she began her higher education journey more than 15 years ago.
Tennessee Reverse Transfer rolled out across the state in February as a way for students who transfer from a Tennessee community college before earning a two-year degree to retroactively receive that credential when requirements are met in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.
“These are degrees they’ve earned and just don’t know it,” said Brenda Rector, registrar and director of admissions and records at Roane State Community College. “Their eyes may be set on a bachelor’s degree, but they now have something tangible to show for their progress. They can tell an employer they have a degree, and that’s something we hope for all our students.”
An associate degree is seen as a valuable job-seeking credential for undergraduate students working their way through college and may even give them an advantage when being considered for programs post-transfer.
The program represents a unique partnership involving the state’s three public and private higher education systems and investments from the state of Tennessee and Lumina Foundation, an Indianapolis-based private foundation dedicated to expanding access to and success in education beyond high school, totaling almost $700,000. So far, 30 colleges and universities across the state have signed on to participate—making Tennessee one of only about six states in the country creating reverse transfer programs on this scale.
“Including private, four-year schools like Maryville College in this program provides Tennessee students greater options,” said Kathi Wilson, registrar at Maryville College. “We are pleased to be a part of this collaboration between the public and private colleges and universities.”
Implementation is occurring in two phases and began at 14 participating two- and four-year schools during the spring 2015 semester. The remaining 16 schools will come on board this fall.
Even in partial implementation, more than 5,880 transfer students were identified as potentially eligible for a reverse transfer associate degree and invited to sign up for a free degree audit. Of 20 percent who opted in, 341 students met graduation requirements upon further review and are being contacted now by the community colleges they attended.
“I’m actually enclosing their diploma in the envelope,” Rector said of the 24 degrees being awarded by Roane State this week.
Students who opted in but did not meet requirements are being told the courses they lack and will be contacted again in the fall.
Eligible transfer students will be identified and notified each semester. Criteria for eligibility:
- Currently enrolled at a participating four-year Tennessee school
- Have earned a minimum of 15 college-level credits from a Tennessee community college
- Transferred from a Tennessee community college before earning an associate degree
- Completed a combined total of 60 college-level credits post-transfer
“We’re just getting started and already have learned so much about how to improve the process and reach more students,” said Gloria Gammell, project coordinator for Tennessee Reverse Transfer and program manager for the University of Tennessee System.
Work being done this summer includes loading more information into the centralized credit-review system to more accurately identify eligible students and cut down on the amount of manual review required at the community college level. Plans for fall 2015 also call for more training among advisors and faculty and ramping up student communications and marketing to increase participation.
“We’ve done a lot in a short amount of time,” added Gammell. “We’re celebrating with the 341 students who now have degrees and expect to make an even greater impact in the fall.”
Four-Year Schools Currently Participating; Outcomes in Spring 2015:
University of Tennessee System
- UT Chattanooga (402 potentially eligible students, 121 opted in, 13 students awarded degrees by former community college)
- UT Knoxville (950 potentially eligible students, 261 opted in, 72 students awarded degrees by former community college)
- UT Martin (186 potentially eligible students, 59 opted in, 17 students awarded degrees by former community college)
Tennessee Board of Regents Universities
- East Tennessee State University (899 potentially eligible students, 143 opted in, 56 students awarded degrees by former community college)
- Middle Tennessee State University (1,722 potentially eligible students, 146 opted in, 64 students awarded degrees by former community college)
- University of Memphis (1,659 potentially eligible students, 423 opted in, 119 students awarded degrees by former community college)
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
- Maryville College (42 potentially eligible students, 6 opted in, no students awarded degrees by former community college)
Community Colleges Currently Participating; Outcomes in Spring 2015:
- Cleveland State Community College (5 degrees awarded)
- Jackson State Community College (52 degrees awarded)
- Northeast State Community College (41 degrees awarded)
- Pellissippi State Community College (73 degrees awarded)
- Roane State Community College (24 degrees awarded)
- Southwest Tennessee Community College (93 degrees awarded)
- Vol State Community College (53 degrees awarded)
Four-Year Schools Joining in Fall 2015:
Tennessee Board of Regents Universities
- Austin Peay State University
- Tennessee State University
- Tennessee Tech University
Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association
- Carson-Newman University
- Christian Brothers University
- Freed-Hardeman University
- Lipscomb University
- Memphis College of Art
- Milligan College
- Tusculum College
Community Colleges Joining in Fall 2015:
- Chattanooga State Community College
- Columbia State Community College
- Dyersburg State Community College
- Motlow State Community College
- Nashville State Community College
- Walters State Community College
About Tennessee Reverse Transfer:
In July 2012, the UT System convened and charged a statewide taskforce with creating a reverse transfer process, at the recommendation of the legislature. In 2013, the governor’s budget included a one-time, $300,000 appropriation to partially underwrite start-up costs.
In 2014, Lumina Foundation awarded the UT System a $392,800 grant to further facilitate and accelerate creation of a reverse transfer process. Grant funding from Lumina’s “Credit When It’s Due” program was awarded to a total of 15 recipients, including the partnership involving public and private Tennessee higher education institutions.
Contacts
Ellie Amadoramador@tennessee.edu
(865) 974-1177
Gina Stafford
stafford@tennessee.edu
(865) 974-0741