J.F. Drake State Technical College is named after Joseph Fanning Drake, a former president of Alabama A&M University.
Recently, the schools have entered into a “reverse transfer credit agreement,” which will enable students who have taken courses at J.F. Drake to earn their associate degree after having transferred to Alabama A&M. The agreement allows credits earned at Alabama A&M to count toward the J.F. Drake associate degree, officials say.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage students to complete their associate degree. It just makes sense,” says Venita Clisby King, the AAMU assistant vice president for enrollment management and director of admissions.
“It’s a win-win for both institutions,” she added.
To be eligible for the program, which takes effect this fall, students must have completed 12 college semester hours at J.F. Drake and at least three credit hours at AAMU, with J.F. Drake designated as the last school attended, according to the agreement.
King said it’s expected that non-traditional, working adult students will largely be the target of the reverse transfer credit agreement. “That’s the market your community colleges are attracting” she said.
A key idea driving the AAMU-Drake and other such agreements lies with the notion that students are said to reap a psychological boost upon associate degree completion and that success often encourages them to complete their bachelor’s degree. It’s also been a common experience of many students to transfer from two-year schools to four-year institutions and fail to earn a degree from either.
