From March, 2022 to February, 2023 the prestigious Aspen Institute will facilitate a monthly workshop designed to increase opportunities for students who wish to transfer from a community college to a four-year institution. Fourteen college and university partnerships, including Trinidad State College and Adams State University, were chosen to participate.

Starting at a community college and then transferring to a four-year institution makes a lot of sense for many students, but students can sometimes face barriers. National data indicates loss of credit, misaligned programs, and confusing information can hinder and frustrate students in the transfer process. Successful partnerships require commitment from both the two-year and four-year institution to create seamless academic pathways, strong advising models, as well as routines, structures, and actions that support sustained collaboration. Leadership teams from both TSC and ASU jointly applied for this selective training opportunity.

Each month, workshop sessions will help educators to drill down to more efficient ways students can transfer from two-year to four-year schools. Topics will include fostering strong partnerships between two- and four-year institutions, creating seamless and efficient transfer systems, and making it easier for students to understand what they need to do before they transfer.

“We want students to feel confident in their goals and not waste time or money taking classes they don’t need, while still reaching their goal of a bachelor’s degree,” said Trinidad State President Dr. Rhonda Epper.

The workshop series is sponsored by the Aspen Institute and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Sixty-seven colleges and universities from 25 states will participate.