Three-quarters of community college presidents report that their institutions are adding new programs or other options to make it easier for students to transfer to four-year universities, according to a new report from Inside Higher Ed and Gallup.

The additions are an attempt to recruit more students and better serve those already enrolled at two-year institutions, survey data from community college presidents shows.

When asked specifically about the barriers faced by transfer students, survey respondents said the following factors were either very significant or somewhat significant in limiting the number of community college transfers who went on to earn bachelor’s degrees.

• Lack of clear pathways that assure community college graduates can transfer two years’ worth of credit (90 percent)
• Lack of academic advising on how to prepare for transfer (75 percent)
• Lack of interest by four-year public colleges in supporting transfer students from community college (73 percent)
• Lack of interest by four-year private colleges in supporting transfer students from community college (67 percent)

The survey is based on responses from leaders at 177 two-year colleges from across the country. Download the full report and check out NACAC’s transfer resources.

Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.