KU honored for its pathways for students transferring from community colleges

LAWRENCE — For the fourth consecutive year, the University of Kansas has been recognized for excellence in community college transfer by a national honor society.

KU is one of 122 colleges and universities named to Phi Theta Kappa’s 2020 Transfer Honor Roll, which recognizes excellence in the development of transfer pathways. This honor is awarded to the top 25% of colleges that earned the highest Transfer Friendliness Ratings by completing a Transfer Profile in PTK Connect. 

Honor roll members were scored on criteria like admissions practices, cost of attendance, campus life, recruitment practices and peer reviews.

“KU’s continued inclusion as one of only 122 colleges and universities recognized by placement on Phi Theta Kappa’s Transfer Honor Roll is a testament to the strategies, systems and structures put in place over the past several years in an effort to provide more seamless and integrated services to the transfer population,” said Matt Melvin, vice provost for enrollment management. “We want and encourage more community college students to consider continuing their educational careers at KU either through the Lawrence campus, Edwards Campus, KU online or through a combination of delivery modes.”

Approximately 25% of KU’s entering student population each fall are transfer students. That population continues to be  an area of emphasis for KU and an important part of KU's diversity strategy

Many schools lump transfer students into the general freshman visit events, and if they do have a program for transfer students, such events are offered a few times a year. In contrast, KU has admissions representatives who work specifically with the transfer student population, offer specialized transfer visits every week in which students can learn about transfer credits and meet with other students who have transferred to KU.

In light of COVID-19, that program has transitioned online. Transfer Friday presentations include information from the university's transfer admissions representative, a Q-and-A with a KU transfer student and information about transfer credits. Students can register for these 10 a.m. online presentations.

Other ways KU continues to build relationships with transfer students include:

• Offering a Phi Theta Kappa scholarship that is only available to transfer students 
• The KU Edwards Campus Honors Program, an extension of KU’s esteemed University Honors Program, with an eye toward community college transfer students who participated in a community college honors program
• The launch of KU Edwards Campus Transfer Communities, which provide joint co-curricular programming for community college and KU students as well as peer mentoring
• Expansion of the Degree in 3 program, which allows students from partner high schools and community colleges to earn their degree from KU in only three years
• Granting credit hours for military service and offering a Transfer Univ 101 course designed with transfer student transition in mind. For details, visit Transfer to KU.

KU’s efforts to recruit and serve transfer students align with the Kansas Board of Regents systemwide emphasis on transfer and articulation, which is designed to better serve students and families and, ultimately, provide more graduates for the Kansas workforce.

Applications are still being accepted for both summer and fall semesters. To learn more or apply, visit KU Admissions.