Opportunities for Student Recruitment: Non-Traditional Transfer Agreements

Transitioning students from community colleges to four-year institutions is crucial for broadening educational opportunities and fostering career development.This paper examines the development and implementation of curriculum pathways to help students holding Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees or similar qualifications in construction and industrial technologies majors to transfer to a four-year degree program.The AAS, once seen as a terminal degree, now allows non-traditional students to pursue bachelor's degree opportunities in construction management or industrial engineering technology.Creating these transfer options is not solely one person's task but a joint effort involving community colleges and four-year institutions.Research has shown that community college transfer students (CCTS) face unique challenges, including a phenomenon known as "transfer shock," which causes an initial drop in academic performance, and systemic barriers such as credit transfer inefficiencies [1], [2].Despite these challenges, students who receive institutional strong support recover academically and perform on par with native students over time [3], [4].This joint commitment ensures seamless credit transfers and academic continuity.This paper discusses developing these agreements, highlighting considerations and steps taken to align curricula and meet accreditation standards.It also addresses the challenges encountered, such as differences in academic standards, resource allocation, and institutional priorities.