Background/Context: Transfer from community colleges to four-year institutions remains a contentious issue in higher education, with proponents showing that students do indeed transfer to four-year institutions and opponents arguing that starting in community colleges hinders baccalaureate degree attainment. One particularly salient issue in this…

This issue of "The Progress of Education Reform" will look at recent research on transfer and articulation in light of the new movement to increase degree attainment by addressing the following three questions: (1) Do articulation agreements ease the transfer process and lead to degree attainment; (2) what are the factors that facilitate…

In this study, we examine the role of academic preparation in the transition from community colleges to four-year institutions. We address two specific questions: To what extent do academically unprepared students transfer to four-year institutions? And, can positive experiences in community colleges diminish the role of inadequate academic…

This "Policy Alert" summarizes an earlier report, State Policy and Community College-Baccalaureate Transfer, which examined the role of state policy in influencing community college-baccalaureate transfer. The "Policy Alert" looks at the importance of two-year to four-year transfer, and offers recommendations for improvement to…

The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the higher education articulation and transfer policies and processes between the states of Florida and Maryland. The paper examines how the state governance structures impact articulation and transfer. Both states have instituted statewide policies meant to implement high levels of transfer…

Describes a study conducted to gather information about the number of two-year college students who hold baccalaureate degrees. Finds that, for academic year 1997-98: (1) 12,946 students out of 753,255 already had bachelor's degrees, 2,527 had master's degrees, and 142 had doctoral degrees; and (2) criminal justice development was the most popular…

This paper compares and contrasts the higher education articulation and transfer policies and processes between the states of Florida and Maryland. The author examines how the state governance structures impact articulation and transfer. Both states have instituted statewide policies meant to implement high levels of transfer between two-year and…

This report presents the findings of a national study initiated by the Ford Foundation to examine the policies affecting community college transfer, including obstacles to transfer and successful models for overcoming those obstacles. The first part of the document outlines current changes in higher education and identifies factors that encourage…

The Florida legislature has passed several reforms designed to shorten the time it takes students to obtain their degrees. Although the reforms have produced benefits, some articulation problems continue. The problems include the following: (1) One in five (20%) AA transfer students take a semester or more of lower division courses at a…

Argues that, as colleges work to ensure that they are serving the workforce needs of their communities, they must also ensure that their transfer and academic functions are not diminished. Documents the continued importance of the transfer mission in Florida, and provides information on policies designed to ensure a smooth transition from one…

This study presents the results of a five-year longitudinal study of students in the Florida Community College System (FCCS). First-time entering students in fall 1993 were tracked through spring 1998. The study examined the numbers of students who earned awards, transferred to the state university system, remained enrolled in FCCS, and were…