'Waste of time': Community college transfers derail students

[Jilly_in_VA]

First came the good news. After taking classes at a community college, Ricki Korba was admitted to California State University, Bakersfield, as a transfer student. But when she logged on to her student account, she got a gut punch: Most of her previous classes wouldn’t count.

The university rejected most of her science classes, she was told, because they were deemed less rigorous than those at Bakersfield — even though some used the same textbooks. Several other courses were rejected because Korba exceeded a cap on how many credits can be transferred.

Now Korba, a chemistry and music major, is retaking classes she already passed once. It will add a year to her studies, plus at least $20,000 in tuition and fees.

“It just feels like a waste of time,” said Korba, 23, of Sonora, California. “I thought I was supposed to be going to a CSU and starting hard classes and doing a bunch of cool labs.”

https://apnews.com/article/bachelor-degree-community-college-transfer-credits-cec0154f260c130fbbfcb593de77e4da?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=TopNews&utm_campaign=position_01

This is absolute bullshit. Community colleges and state colleges are supposed to have reciprocity.

[FirstLight]

1. that is total bullshit...

There's a reason they use the IGETC for trnsfers, so the classes line up with Gen Ed requirements as well as focus like Humanities or Math.

That sounds like the State School is questioing the Community College's certification, which should be challenged.

I alwasy thought having to do ANOTHER 2 years of Gen Ed after HS was a watse of time also...but not all of us are prolific in writing or research...

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Something smells fishy

Either the community college made some egregious errors around curriculum standards, or the university was being heavy handed.

My daughter went to 2 years of community college, and all her credits transferred towards her BA at CalState LA.

[halfulglas]

3. That's terrible.

My granddaughter transferred to Maryland as a junior with all her community college credits transferring. A friend's son transferred years ago with all his credits transferring. I can see if it's one of those online only for profit colleges but this isn't right. To lose a whole year!

[Baitball Blogger]

4. In Florida, I think it's valid to question the accreditation of some of our schools.

You can have the same textbooks, but are the same chapters covered? Sometimes they stop short of finishing the advanced chapters. How detailed is the information passed onto the kids?

And, how do you determine if a political position of the teacher intentionally leaves out important information? Or dilutes it?

[Bread and Circuses]

5. This is not Accurate for All Students, seeking transfer!

FYI,

I'd like to provide an expanded comment to clarify the transfer process.
I have extensive experience in higher education and specifically am very knowledgeable about articulation agreements. I have been a senior administrator at various public and private universities and have promoted opportunities for first-generation students and have administered transfer centers, along with other student services.

I will try to summarize, articulation agreements have been in place for over 30 years.

California has articulation agreements between all 2 year and 4 year colleges. All students can look up their classes to see if the course transfers fully to any other California public university. Students are shown this during Orientation. It is an online 'course navigation' portal links below (different terminology may be used). Students can run 'what if' scenarios to determine which of their courses will articulate fully into any desired degree program in any university.

Additionally, academic advisors at their current community college can explain in detail every course and transfer equivalency. There are also 'transfer specialists' at the 4 year colleges and websites to help community college students plan their transfer. This is done all the time and students transfer successfully. Some 'prep' classes taken at community colleges do not transfer into any degree programs.

Some classes may transfer as 'credit only' but will not be accepted into a specific degree program if it doesn't meet the accreditation standards for a specific degree.
Example: engineering degrees require 'calculus based physics courses' ; algebra based physics courses do not transfer fully into engineering degree requirements. It seems that this student is looking at a science undergraduate degree. Science, Engineering, Nursing, etc. are the MOST competitive degree programs and may set higher admission standards to transfer into their departments

It's not unusual that a student takes additional courses that do not transfer, usually it's a few credits. The degree-granting department accepting the credits and admissions work together to determine what courses from the community college fully transfer into their degree programs. This is all automated now. If a 4-year university rejects a specific course, it may be that data has shown that other students from a specific community college or other college have failed is upper-division course after transferring. There's more to say here, but I'm trying to be brief. We want students to be successful, not 'flunk-out'.

Im summary:

I'm sorry that the student is disappointed, I've seen similar situations. Sometimes, students change their intended majors, or listen to friends, or don't realize these details. However, There are amply resources to help students progress at the CA Community Colleges. And, I have seen many successfully transfer and continue their degree matriculation. The CA Community Colleges are fantastic. The CSU and UC are fantastic.


Bottom Line:
Visit the Admissions Office and talk with transfer specialists.
Make an appointment with Academic Advisors and Counselors and review degree options.
Attend Transfer Days that are hosted either virtually or in-person.
Call or email your prospective undergraduate department. Read their degree requirements online.

I hope this particular student continues their education and graduates. Good Luck in your future endeavors!

Please Pass on these websites to current and prospective students. CSU and UC loves our community college transfer students.

Resources:
https://uctap.universityofcalifornia.edu/students/
https://www.calstate.edu/apply/transfer
https://assist.org/

[Bristlecone]

6. Sounds like an easy way to fleece students by Cal Bakersfield.

[AwakeAtLast]

7. This has been happening for years.

It's why I didn't go to a CC in 1988!

[xocetaceans]

8. Education is neither a product nor a "personal" investment as much as the GOP wants it to be.

Neither should it be designed to "serve" to students nor should any students have to pay for it (for doing the work to get one's education is difficult enough in terms of time and dedication to the subject). A saner country would provide universal free access with stipends so that its young people could achieve their educational dreams without incurring debt. It would be for the good of the community as a whole to have more knowledgeable citizens.

‘Waste of time’: Community college transfers derail students
By COLLIN BINKLEY

...

“It’s completely defeating for some students,” said Jessie Ryan, vice president of the Campaign for College Opportunity, a research group. “These systems have been designed to work for colleges and educators, but they haven’t been designed to work for students.”

...

https://apnews.com/article/bachelor-degree-community-college-transfer-credits-cec0154f260c130fbbfcb593de77e4da