University Star

“Reverse transferring” is a growing trend among Texas students, and a nearby community college is looking to offer the process at Texas State.

House Bill 3025, which went into effect June 2011, allows for students to receive an associate degree from a community college after transferring to a four-year university. Official say this is beneficial if a student for some reason cannot complete a degree after transferring.

Austin Community College is now discussing developing a new reverse transfer program with Texas State, similar to arrangements it has made with the University of Texas-Austin. Texas State Registrar Lloydean Eckley said Texas State sent 463 student transcripts back to their community colleges for analysis for reverse transfer in January. These transcripts were from students who had transferred to Texas State since the fall 2011 semester.

ACC received 222 of the 463 transfer student transcripts sent by Texas State last month, Eckley said.

Alexis Patterson Hanes, ACC spokeswoman, said the colleges have an agreement that students can complete the requirements of their ACC associate degrees at UT. The stipulations are transfer students must meet the same requirements of all ACC graduates and earn at least 25 percent of credit hours at the community college.  Both schools have agreed to review transcripts of transfer students from the past decade who wish to participate in the program

ACC President Richard Rhodes initiated the arrangement between the two colleges after experiencing success with a partnership with the University of Texas-El Paso while he was president of El Paso Community College.

“It really is about awarding that valuable credential to students who have earned it, and it makes sense,” Hanes said.

Michael Heintze, associate vice president for Enrollment Management, said having an associate’s degree will make students more employable and earn a better income for those who cannot continue school. Hanes agreed that having an associate degree makes students more marketable when searching for employment after college.

However, the emphasis behind the legislation is to encourage transfer students to have an associate degree to fall back on if they can’t complete their education at a four-year university.

“Sometimes it may be a family-related matter or something else that interrupts their four-year education,” Heintze said.  “Having a two-year associate degree in hand already would help them in finding work while they are not able to continue their education.”

Heintze said Texas State has had a reverse transfer option available to students through a special agreement with Blinn College.before the law went into effect.