Reverse Transfer Initiatives Support Credential Attainment in Stop-Out Process

Title: Innovative Strategies to Close Postsecondary Attainment Gaps: Reclaiming Earned Degrees Through Reverse Transfer

Source: Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP)

Authors: Jennifer Pocai and Leanne Davis

In their newest publication, the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) explores reverse transfer as a means for providing associate degrees to students who stop-out of four-year college programs. Because these individuals are disproportionately Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and/or come from low-income families, the report features initiatives in Los Angeles (CA) and Richmond (VA) working to ensure that reverse transfer credentials are particularly accessible for these groups.

Three key takeaways are detailed:

• All students should be awarded the degrees they’ve earned, while institutions should be aware of the equity implications underlying students’ awareness of the policy.
• Relationships between two- and four-year institutions are foundational.
• Data infrastructure is crucial for identifying eligible students, communicating with potential reverse transfers, and informing the policy implementation process.

Click here to read the report.

—Anna Marie Ramos