For fifth consecutive year, KU makes Phi Theta Kappa’s transfer honor roll


Thu, 02/25/2021

author

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson


Buses and students on Jayhawk Boulevard

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

KU is one of 150 colleges and universities named to Phi Theta Kappa’s 2021 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 placement on Phi Theta Kappa’s Transfer Roll is an outcome associated with the importance KU has placed on transfer students as a critical component of KU’s enrollment portfolio,” said Matt Melvin, vice provost for enrollment management. “Data from our various nonmatriculant surveys clearly indicates that, as a result of the pandemic, a large number of students elected to utilize their local community college as their port of entry into higher education. Effectively attracting and serving this market segment becomes even more important in our efforts to secure KU’s preferred enrollment future. We want and encourage community college students to continue their educational careers at KU either through the campus in Lawrence, the 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 an admissions representative who works specifically with the transfer student population.

KU offers both in person and virtual visit options for transfer students with a Transfer Friday visit opportunity to learn about transferring to KU. Details and registration can be found online.

Other ways KU continues to build relationships with transfer students:

  • 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 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. Learn more or apply.

Thu, 02/25/2021

author

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson

Media Contacts

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson

KU News Service

785-864-8858