South Carolina works to ease transfer between colleges

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 00:32 · Archive

South Carolina higher education leaders are working to reduce costs and obstacles when students transfer between institutions.

South Carolina higher education leaders met Tuesday in Columbia for the Transfer Excellence Convening, an event aimed at improving how academic credits transfer between institutions and helping students stay on track to graduate. The initiative addresses growing concerns about student affordability as national student loan debt has climbed above £1.7 trillion, surpassing both credit card and auto loan debt.

Many students choose to begin at technical or community colleges before transferring to four-year universities to reduce costs. However, higher education leaders say those savings can disappear if credits fail to transfer or count towards degree requirements. Ashley Reich of the U.S. Department of Education noted that forty percent of master's degree programmes have a negative return on investment.

Jeffrey Perez, president and executive director of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, said improving credit mobility can expand opportunities for students, especially first-generation college attendees. 'By allowing a student to go from a technical college seamlessly to a four-year college, it gives so many more students the opportunity for that college experience, especially first-generation students,' Perez said. South Carolina has already established a list of 86 courses guaranteed to transfer among public colleges and universities and developed statewide transfer planning tools to help students navigate the process.

How it is being reported

• As costs rise, South Carolina targets obstacles facing transfer studentsAs more students look for affordable ways to earn a college degree, South Carolina leaders are working to make sure transferring schools doesn’t come with added costs.WISTV · 13 Oct, 23:54
• As costs rise, South Carolina targets obstacles facing transfer studentsAs more students look for affordable ways to earn a college degree, South Carolina higher education leaders are working to make sure transferring schools doesn’t come with added costs.Live5News · 13 Oct, 22:50

In this story: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education · U.S. Department of Education · South Carolina

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