Toward a Transfer-Conscious University : Fulfilling the Promise of Community College Pathways

A compelling call to build universities where transfer students can thrive.

The promise of community college transfer is simple: expand access to higher education and create new opportunities for students to gain admission to universities and earn bachelor''s degrees. Too often, however, that promise falls short when universities fail to prioritize and facilitate transfer pathways. In Toward a Transfer-Conscious University, Jennifer M. Blaney reveals how even high-achieving transfer students encounter barriers embedded in university policies, practices, and cultures. These obstacles can delay graduation, limit access to internships and research opportunities, and undermine long-term career success.

These challenges disproportionately affect students from low-income backgrounds and racially minoritized communities who often rely on community colleges, making transfer reform a critical part of advancing equity in higher education. Toward a Transfer-Conscious University draws upon four years of data from community college transfer students in computer science alongside interviews with faculty, staff, and administrators responsible for shaping university policies. Through vivid student narratives, Blaney reveals how transfer students navigate complex admissions requirements, confusing credit policies, financial uncertainty, and institutional cultures that too often overlook their needs. At the same time, she demonstrates the remarkable determination, talent, and resilience these students bring to their educational journeys.

Blaney offers a practical framework for creating more transfer-conscious universities. She argues that equitably supporting transfer student success requires more than articulation agreements or advising—it requires universities to fundamentally rethink how they design curricula, allocate opportunities, and measure student success to proactively consider transfer students in all aspects of their work. Blaney''s blend of storytelling and tangible guidance for practitioners makes this book essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the lives of community college transfer students and facilitating equitable transfer pathways.