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Signature Initiative

AACRAO is determined to re-envision institutional practices to better serve transfer students. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center revealed that nearly 40% of students enrolled in higher education transfer annually. The sheer volume warrants attention to smooth the process, which nationally, is inconsistent. And finally, the continuing pandemic has further widened structural and foundational gaps through which learners facing multiple intersectional inequities fall.

AACRAO's participation in these discussions spans decades and includes providing guidance on transfer student practice and policy for domestic and international students. As a leader in the academic and enrollment services space, our research highlights transfer policy gaps and spotlights successful practices that drive both institutional and learner success.

Now is the time to develop promising practices that will inform requirements for an institutional “transfer student success” designation.

Explore the AACRAO events aiding the development of the Transfer Student Success Designation.

Share Your Knowledge

Student transfer remains a key topic of national research and policy discussions, and is gaining national attention.

Get involved - Expand your skillset by sharing your professional knowledge. Contact Melanie Gottlieb to

  • Write for AACRAO Connect
  • Host an AACRAO Coffee Break
  • Present at the Transfer Summit
  • Present at the Tech Summit
  • and much more

Sept 29 - 30 | Technology Summit

The Technology Summit focuses on the technology of transfer. Now is the time to accelerate change. AACRAO is determined to remove transfer barriers and speed processes that support student decision-making and advising by supporting institutions in migrating to digital document pathways. 

The pandemic forced the majority of the education sector into a remote workforce model, disrupting the largely analog set of processes that surround student transfer. Digital record portability and interoperability has always been a priority in the name of student success, but we find now that it is also a key point of business continuity and institutional success.

Institutions who engage with the digital record ecosphere will find themselves a part of the global movement, led by our close partners in the Groningen Declaration Network (GDN), which envisions that citizens worldwide should be able to electronically consult and share their authentic educational data with whomever they want, whenever they want, wherever they are.

As a founding GDN member and as a leader of the U.S. digital transfer conversation with the inception of SPEEDE in the 1970s, AACRAO is eager to help pave the digital highway for US higher education to engage.

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July 8 - 9 | Transfer Practice Summit

Transfer-related policies and practices identified by the Work Group that indicate an institution is effectively focused on transfer student success drive the agenda for our Transfer Practice Summit in July. They are also the focus of a whitepaper and the launch of our institutional designation.

Articles, Coffee Breaks, webinars and blog posts leading up to the Summit will elevate the transfer conversation amongst our members and partners. This conversation provides opportunities to explore questions and discuss solutions to the myriad of interconnected issues and perspectives that impact the transfer student experience.

Post-summit, we will share our final paper and implement a toolkit for institutions to embed these research-based practices for the betterment of their transfer students.

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March 29 - April 1 | AACRAO Annual Meeting

REIMAGINE THE PATH FORWARD

Join a world-wide, higher education network at #AACRAO2021 as it comes together to explore different conversations than years past. The change we saw coming is here. We have to be comprehensive in our approach. We have to do the work of reimagining systems.

AACRAO is determined to re-envision institutional practices to better serve transfer students. Transfer sessions highlighted present tools to help shape the future of transfer.

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February | Transfer Work Group

Purpose

To identify a list of transfer related policies and practices that indicate an institution is effectively focused on transfer student success.

Charge

This work group will develop a preliminary proposal on what policies and practices need to be in place to support an institution being designated as an institution with best practices for transfer student success

Recognition of Excellence in Supporting Transfer Student Success Report Released:

Read the Report
The Work Group

Susan Acevedo Moyer | American Council on Education
Devin Andrews | University of Phoenix
ReQail Ashbury | Albany State University
Robert Cackler | Colorado Mesa University
Carla Cardoza | El Paso Community College
Morgan Donovan-Hall | UMass Amherst
Melissa Frey | Chemeketa Community College
Gwen Kanelos | Concordia University Chicago
Laura Macchia Amescua | University of California Office of the President
Urana Pridemore | University of Michigan-Dearborn
Jacqui Rogers | College of Southern Maryland
Brian Scholten | New College of Florida
Sasha Suzuki | Wake Forest University

AACRAO offers Transfer Practice Research
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AACRAO offers Transfer and Articulation Resources
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Understanding Transfer and Articulation is an AACRAO Professional Proficiency
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AACRAO Transfer Research

Reimagining Transfer for Student Success

Reimagining Transfer for Student Success: The National Task Force on the Transfer and Award of Credit

The National Task Force on the Transfer and Award of Credit offers recommendations and best practices on how to modify existing transfer and award of credit practices to best support student success.

Re-Envisioning Transfer
Registration & Records
Transfer
prior learning assessment
Transfer Credit
Transfer Credit Evaluation
transfer students

A Peek Behind the Curtain: An examination of credit evaluation and academic advising for transfer students at U.S. undergraduate serving institutions

AACRAO has a longstanding practice of providing guidance and research in support of the transfer student experience.

Registration & Records
Research
Transfer

How Students Experience and Perceive Transferring Earned Credit

In this paper, the authors highlight a study by AACRAO and The American Council on Education (ACE) on students’ perceptions about how transfer credit was applied towards academic programs of study.

Registration & Records
Research
Transfer

2020 Stranded Credits Report: Another Perspective on the Lost Credits Story

For this research, “stranded credits” refers to the accumulated credits for which a student is unable to obtain an official transcript due to an administrative hold.

Other Topics
Registration & Records
Research
Transfer

COVID-19: Transfer Credit Evaluation, Official Transcript Receipt & Delivery, Test Score Receipt and Fall Calendar/Sessions Plans

Snapshot Impact Survey #3: This is the third in a series of snapshot reports on COVID-19’s impact on practice.

2020
Research
Special Topics
Transfer

2019 U.S. Higher Education Official Transcript Practices

This recurring survey serves two functions.

Registration & Records
Research
Transcripts
Transfer

An Examination of Prior Learning Assessment Policy and Practice as Experienced by Academic Records Professionals and Students

This brief is one part of a broad landscape analysis focused on policy and practice issues related to the recognition of prior learning.

Other Topics
Registration & Records
Research
Transfer

Transfer Credit Policy - May 60-Second Survey 2017

AACRAO, in conjunction with other higher education associations, is writing a new version of the Joint Statement on the Transfer and Award of Credit.

Registration & Records
Research
Transfer

2017 Grades and Grading Practices in U.S. Higher Education

This is the fifth iteration of a grades and grading practices publication by AACRAO. The previous versions in 1971, 1982, 1992, and 2004 were produced in a book for purchase format.

Grades/Grading
Registration & Records
Research
Transfer

Dual Enrollment from Two Points of View: Higher Education and K–12 2017

While dual enrollment fills a similar student success niche in both higher and K–12 education, the administrative perspectives of these two entities do not always align.

2017
Research
Special Topics
Transfer

Credit for Prior Learning Practices - December 60-Second Survey 2014

AACRAO recently initiated a series of surveys designed to capture member institutional practice snapshots in 60 seconds or less.

Registration & Records
Research
Transfer

Transfer Articulation Practices - October 2014

This survey collected transfer articulation practices from a variety of academic departments to see which "units/departments are responsible for processing transfer credit articulation."

Registration & Records
Research
Transfer

Transfer and Articulation State Practices - May 2002

The states are doing a good job of addressing transfer problems in the most traditional form of transfer: 2-year to 4-year institutions.

Registration & Records
Research
Transfer