When a student registers to study biotechnology at Virginia Western Community College, they’re not just signing up for one of the school’s newest concentrations. They’re also starting a path to a bachelor’s degree that college administrators hope can save them time and money.
It’s part of a statewide push to make the transition from community college to four-year university easier for transfer students, who have historically been overlooked in favor of incoming freshmen.
A piece of 2018 legislation required Virginia public colleges to streamline their articulation agreements with community colleges in an effort to increase efficiency and boost student success. Five years later, schools across the state are rapidly announcing transfer agreements that are hyper-focused on creating realistic, achievable paths to in-demand careers, rather than leaving students to figure out their own road to a four-year degree.
It will take years to determine how the new agreements impact graduation rates. But transfer data shows some promise for years to come.