Crowdsourcing professional development around student transfer

The transfer space faces a critical divide that has become more apparent as transfer discussions become increasingly prominent in national education conversations. While more institutions are hiring transfer professionals, the ongoing support and training for this community is largely overlooked. Historically, field transfer has been viewed as an afterthought. It is time to prioritize the professional development of transfers in higher education; the absence of which poses a significant barrier to student success and institutional effectiveness.

To close this gap we must:

1. Prioritize consistent, transfer-specific training and development programs,
2. Strengthen networks and communities of practice focused on transfer,
3. Integrate transfer expertise into broader institutional strategies,
4. Advocating for resources and recognition of transfer as a specialized field and high-impact practice, and
5. Collaborate with institutions, sectors and states to share best practices and innovative solutions.

Higher education leaders are responsible for taking the transfer profession to the next level and equipping dedicated transfer professionals with the necessary skills. Over the past forty years of our transfer work, we have discovered that by investing in transfer professionals, we are investing in the future of our institutions and the success of our students.

Let’s commit to building a robust, well-supported community of transfer professionals who can create meaningful change and ensure that every student, regardless of their path, has the opportunity to thrive.

Key areas of focus

Most transfer-related discussions revolve around three key areas:

1. Challenges faced by transfer students
2. Data-driven insights
3. Institutional and systemic responses

For example, recent blog posts from ‘Beyond Transfer’ highlighted solutions such as improving transfer evaluation through technologyas discussed by Camden Farmer in September 2023. Additionally, Melody Crenshaw and Micol Hutchison explored Virginia’s efforts to help students navigate their many options. Tania LaViolet has also highlighted the power of data transmission in guiding institutional decisions.

While these conversations are valuable and necessary, they often ignore the professionals who implement these strategies and directly support students. These unsung heroes include:

• Coordinators and directors of transfer programs
• Credit reporting agencies for transcriptions and transfers
• Advisors guide students through the transfer process
• Orientation coordinators working to ease culture shock as students transition between environments
• Policymakers and curriculum managers advocate student-friendly systems
• Institutional or system-level leaders pushing for cultural change and improved support
• Student leaders and student staff support transfer efforts

Despite their crucial role, these professionals are often underprepared and overlooked. Their roles have been discussed in various contexts, such as Judy Johnson’s discussion of transfer work upon admission or the focus of Brenda Pongracz, Jonathan Dryden and Jonathan Wehner cabinet members who influence the transfer culture. Yet broader institutional involvement is essential to actually improve transfer outcomes.

Building a unified transmission community

There are numerous industry groups that offer resources for transfer professionals, such as:

Other organizations, such as the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and Student Veterans of America, provide support for specific student populations. However, these resources are dispersed, requiring transfer professionals to pool them together without a central resource hub.

A key challenge in the transfer world is the lack of coordinated and consistent professional development. Transfer personnel often teach themselves through trial and error, relying on personal initiative to find relevant resources. That was certainly our experience as transfer practitioners on the ground. Many in the field report that they also feel underprepared to be true transference experts, due to the need for more structured guidance.

Here’s what some professionals told us:

• “Everything except articulation was self-taught by necessity, with limited to no resources.”
• “I developed the skills on the job…an excellent tool for transfer? Unfortunately, there actually isn’t one.”
• “I wish there was one sacred text for all transfers (personnel) to immediately give them the knowledge to do this job, but unfortunately that is not the case.”

A call to action

The transfer community has the power to change this. What is needed is a collaborative platform that acts as the connective tissue for transfer education; crowdsourcing transfers knowledge to better serve the community. Such a platform would:

• Develop a centralized website where transfer professionals can share insights and access curated resources.
• Invite practitioners, teachers, administrators and students to contribute their experiences, creating a rich, diverse knowledge base.
• Host regular virtual and in-person events to network and exchange ideas.
• Establish mentorship programs that connect experienced leaders with newcomers to the field.
• Create working groups and think tanks to address specific challenges such as credit mobility, financial aid, and student support services.

One step in this direction is a new data collection project designed to build a free, transfer-oriented knowledge base accessible to everyone. Transfer Nation, an online professional community with nearly 7,000 followers across various social media platforms, has a unique opportunity to crowdsource this information from those doing the work. In the coming weeks the Transfer Nation website will launch this initiative.

This initiative depends on the involvement of the entire transfer community. By bringing collective expertise, we can build a dynamic resource that evolves with the changing needs of students and institutions.

Together, we can create a stronger, more connected transfer education community, one better equipped to advocate and support students throughout their educational and professional journeys.