California’s community college transfer students will now have access to a wider range of higher education opportunities through a first-ever partnership between the state’s community college system and private, independent institutions.
The partnership between the California Community Colleges and the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) expands transfer pathways to now give eligible California community college students in the Associate’s Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway program guaranteed admission to 36 private, non-profit AICCU institutions such as Mills College, Pepperdine University and Whittier College.
ADT previously guaranteed transfer students enrollment in the California State University System, the University of California System, several historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Western Governors University.
“Today, we have about 8,500 students from community colleges who transfer a year, and with this ADT [memorandum of understanding], we can serve even more, and should be serving more,” AICCU President Kristen Soares said Wednesday in a conference call announcing the partnership. “We’ll create more regional access for students while maintaining the hallmark of the ADT, which is a streamlined and strengthened transfer pathway.”
The enhanced pathway will save students time and money on their education journey with a 2+2 model providing students an opportunity to get both an associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree. Soares added that all eligible ADT students transferring to participating AICCU institutions will come in with a junior standing.
California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley said nearly 38 percent of community college students transfer to the state’s four-year institutions. The new ADT partnership intends to “significantly improve” that number by creating a “clear pathway” for students, he said.
Leaders organizing the partnership note that the ADT commitment aligns with existing guided pathways adopted at many of California’s community colleges. The 36 AICCU schools reviewed ADT curriculum and aligned certain majors where they could, Soares said.
