Consensus is growing within higher education: Successful transfer pathways incorporate strong advising components.

The strategy is one of three essential practices highlighted in the recently released Transfer Playbook, and was discussed at length last week during a conference hosted by the Transfer Admissions & Advising Committee (TAAC).

The group — which brings together transfer coordinators working at schools in and around Philadelphia — is committed to making it easier for community college students to continue their education at four-year institutions. David Hawkins, NACAC’s executive director of educational content and policy, served as the conference’s keynote speaker and used his time at the mic to touch on the importance of quality counseling at the postsecondary level.

“While coursework is central to educational achievement, it can all come to naught if the pathways are not illuminated by access to counseling and advising,” he told those gathered for the event, hosted by St. Joseph’s University (PA).

The TAAC conference, an annual event launched in 2014, is designed to generate discussions that will help institutions and professionals better serve transfer students. Although TAAC’s work is regionally focused, the topics discussed at last week’s gathering are of national interest.

View a twitter recap of the conference and check out these transfer resources:

• NACAC’s State of College Admission Report (Chapter 7: Transfer Students)
• The Transfer Playbook: Essential Practices for Two- and Four-Year Colleges (Community College Research Center (CCRC), The Aspen Institute)
• National Student Clearinghouse’s reports on transfer

Heather Durosko is a policy and research strategic initiatives analyst at NACAC. She can be reached at hdurosko@nacacnet.org.