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ASU implements reverse transfer program with community colleges


January 07, 2015

Arizona State University has implemented a reverse transfer of credit program with Arizona community colleges that will increase the numbers of students who are earning associate’s degrees.

ASU President Michael Crow had committed to making this service available last year at a state meeting of community college and university presidents. Crow stated, “ASU is dedicated to working in partnership with the state’s community colleges to increase college degree completion.”

Sometimes community college students who transfer to a university will transition prior to completing all of the associate’s degree requirements. For students who were on a transfer pathway to ASU and who had completed 36 or more credits at a public community college (45 or more credits for the Maricopa Community Colleges), but arrived without a completed associate’s degree, ASU will send their academic transcript back to the community college once they have completed 30 credits at ASU.

The community college will then undertake a review of the student’s combined community college and university credits to see if the student meets the requirements for one of their associate’s degrees. ASU will continue sending transcripts back to the community college each semester until such time as the student has a posted associate’s degree or has earned 60 university credits.

Students will not need to pay for this service or take action to start this process. Students who sign up for pathway programs to ASU sign a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) release statement authorizing their data to be shared between their community college and ASU, and vice versa.

ASU Provost Robert Page shared, “This program helps community colleges increase their numbers of degree completers but most importantly, it benefits students by acknowledging completion of their associate’s degree and encouraging their continued pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.”

Recently, ASU was honored with the national excellence award for its support of transfer student success, and the reverse transfer of credit program is one more element of ASU’s comprehensive plan to improve community college relationships and transfer student success.

Questions about the program may be addressed to Academic Partnerships within the Provost’s Office at ASU.