By Autumn Walden, Editor, AACRAO Connect, Content Strategy Manager, AACRAO
Transfer is having a moment—and it’s a complicated one. National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data show transfer enrollment grew 4.4% in fall 2024, with transferring students making up about 13% of continuing and returning undergraduates. At the same time, many Gen Z learners are navigating what Jonathan Haidt calls the “anxious generation,” with reported mental-health pressures rising sharply since the early 2010s—conditions that can show up as late-cycle hesitation even after admission.
That’s why The Assembly, a Learning Mobility Convening, coming this July 19-21 as the evolution of the AACRAO Tech & Transfer Summit, aligns the field on solutions you can take back to campus. In one session preview, Emily Danger of Palmer College of Chiropractic explores transfer melt and how to design clearer, more supportive enrollment systems that keep admitted transfer students moving. In the second preview, Dr. Seth Marc Kamen of the North Carolina Community College System Office introduces how the North Carolina Community College System is building a statewide learning mobility ecosystem to support working learners, expand flexible pathways, and align credentials with high-demand industries.
Our presenters share some advice to get you started for The Assembly, and we encourage you to join our upcoming webinar on May 27 at 2 p.m. ET. If you're traveling to Arlington, VA, in July, don’t forget to take advantage of the AACRAO group rate by the June 26 hotel priority deadline.
In the session, “Reducing Transfer Melt: Designing Systems for the Anxious Generation,” explore transfer melt among the Gen Z “anxious generation", and what that means for the late-cycle hesitation many institutions are seeing. Learn how to design clearer, more supportive enrollment systems that keep admitted transfer students moving.
“Transfer students bring so much value to our campuses, but they are often navigating the enrollment process while balancing uncertainty, anxiety, work, family responsibilities, and major life transitions. At the same time, today’s students are communicating, processing information, and making decisions differently than previous generations," shared Emily Danger. “As a doctoral student researching Gen Z communication preferences, beliefs, and values in the college admissions process, I’ve become increasingly passionate about helping institutions better understand how students experience enrollment today. I chose this topic because I believe transfer students deserve enrollment experiences that are clear, supportive, and designed with their real challenges and needs in mind. Today’s students are asking for higher education to communicate differently, support differently, and lead differently. Institutions that are willing to adapt will be better positioned to help students succeed.”
What is the most important thing your attendees should take away from your session?
I hope attendees leave the session feeling encouraged to think differently about how we support transfer students. Reducing transfer melt is not always about doing more; it’s often about being more intentional in how we communicate, design processes, and build connections with students. Even small changes can help students feel more confident, supported, and seen throughout the enrollment journey. I also hope attendees walk away with new tools they can adapt to fit their own institution and student population through our interactive activities.
What are your thoughts on The Assembly in general?
The Assembly creates such a meaningful space for higher education professionals to learn from one another, share ideas, and have honest conversations about the future of enrollment and student success. One of my favorite things about The Assembly is the energy that comes from bringing passionate people together in one space. There is so much creativity and innovation happening across higher education, and I’m excited to learn alongside colleagues who are all working toward better outcomes for our students.
Can you share tips for attendees?
Give yourself permission to explore sessions outside of your usual area of expertise or comfort zone and take time to connect with people throughout the conference. Some of the best ideas come from casual conversations, shared challenges, and hearing how other institutions are approaching their work. The Assembly is a wonderful opportunity to recharge, think creatively, and return to campus with fresh ideas and renewed energy for the important work we all have the honor to do.
In the session, “Learning Mobility in North Carolina: Connecting Education, Workforce, and Opportunity,” work through how the North Carolina Community College System is building a statewide learning mobility ecosystem designed to support working learners, expand flexible pathways, and align credentials with high-demand industries.
“Learning mobility in North Carolina is about aligning education and workforce systems so that every credential, skill, and learning experience creates momentum toward employment, advancement, and lifelong opportunity,” shared Dr. Seth Kamen. “I chose to present on this topic because learning mobility is no longer theoretical work—it is operational. Colleges, universities, employers, and state systems are actively working to address challenges related to transfer, skills recognition, workforce alignment, and credential transparency. My work focuses on developing practical models that help these systems work together more effectively, and I hope that by sharing what we are doing in North Carolina, we can help spark conversations and ideas that benefit both other systems and our own.”
What is the most important thing your attendees should take away from your session?
By sharing the work taking place within the North Carolina Community College System, I hope to demonstrate how statewide collaboration and ecosystem-building can help connect education, workforce development, and economic opportunity in more intentional and impactful ways. My hope is that attendees see not only the value of this collaborative and strategic work but also recognize that they are part of a broader movement focused on creating more connected, flexible, and equitable pathways for learners and workers alike.
What are your thoughts on the AACRAO Annual Meeting in general?
I am very excited about the new focus of The Assembly. Credit and learning mobility sit at the center of many current and emerging trends in higher education, and there is a tremendous amount of innovative work, successful practices, and lived experience to share across institutions and systems. I especially appreciate the emphasis on action and implementation. Higher education has spent years discussing what needs to change; the real value now comes from learning how to operationalize those ideas in practical, scalable, and student-centered ways.
Can you share tips for first-time attendees?
While you may think the best outcome of the conference is the information you learn in the sessions, that is important. But the best thing you can actually do is meet others, network, and make connections with others. These folks will become your colleagues, your mentors, your confidants, and your friends. I cannot emphasize the importance of our higher education community enough and how working together can really move the needle.
These sessions are a reminder that aligning the field around one strong purpose—clear, supportive pathways—can reduce melt, strengthen trust, and help more learners reach the finish line without losing time.
Learn more about The Assembly, July 19-21, 2026, in Arlington, VA.