“New England Independent College Transfer Guarantee” Simplifies Access to Four-Year Institutions
Community college students benefit from greater opportunity and affordability

Navigating the pathway to a four-year independent educational institution can be a daunting experience for community college graduates. Challenges, especially inconsistent requirements between schools, can dampen the enthusiasm of even the most motivated transfer students.

Now, thanks to support from the Teagle Foundation and Davis Educational Foundation, the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) is developing pathways for community college graduates to transfer more easily into four-year independent institutions, including Goodwin University. NEBHE is partnering with the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges (CCIC), Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM), Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Rhode Island (AICU RI) and community colleges in the three states to establish the New England Independent College Transfer Guarantee (Guarantee).

The initiative is designed to ensure acceptance at a four-year independent institution for students graduating from a community college with an associate degree and meeting eligibility criteria under the Guarantee. Students will transfer as juniors without credit loss and be fully prepared to successfully complete a bachelor’s degree. At this time, Goodwin is accepting any student who has an associate degree in Criminal Justice or Business into its bachelor’s degree programs in Public Safety and Security or Business Administration respectively (as of February 8, 2021, with additional programs to be added). The only requirement is that the transferring student must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. The student-centered initiative focuses on equitable participation for underrepresented students in higher education and provides eligible students with greater access, opportunity, and affordability at participating four-year private institutions.

Simplifying the transfer process creates a win-win situation for the students and the receiving four-year institutions. Community college graduates bring enriched perspectives from their life experiences, persistence, diversity, and academic preparation. The Guarantee transfer pathway is student centered and takes into account financial and support services needs, interests, aspirations, and cultural backgrounds.

“Goodwin University is mission based to build an educational community that is dynamic and diverse in every sense,” said Dr. Paula Dowd, Dean of Goodwin’s School of Nursing and Health Professions. “The Guarantee will help expand our outreach to prospective students and keep them focused more on their academic goals than on trying to navigate their way through overly complicated processes. This really is a great step forward in serving students.”

Research shows that community college students are far more likely to be successful if they receive support in the form of intensive advising that includes academic guidance and counseling, academic support, peer advising, personal guidance and counseling, career services and supplemental services. Pre-application and post-acceptance support services are critical to the successful transition of community college graduates into four-year institutions and these services shall be provided by participating institutions.

“The more we can simplify the transfer process up front, the greater the chances for a successful experience,” said Allison Misky, Goodwin University Registrar. “Students have enough to manage with their academic work and, in many cases, work and family responsibilities. We’re excited about the possibilities the Guarantee presents in helping us support learners at all levels.”

The Guarantee enables students to transfer without loss of credit counting towards graduation, provided that any minimum grade requirements of the receiving institution are met. Whether the credits are applied to a major, general education core, or electives will be determined by the receiving institution. All institutional minimum grade requirements for transfer credit will be clearly stated and available to all students.

Each agreement between the community colleges and the independent colleges will include clear information on guaranteed admission; additional requirements for selective programs; total cost to complete the baccalaureate program; and special incentives and their effect on total cost.

To learn more about the Guarantee and transferring to programs at Goodwin University, contact Allison Misky, Registrar, at amisky@goodwin.edu or 860-913-2117 or visit https://www.goodwin.edu/transfer-students/transfer-in.