New agreement will ease community college transfers to state universities

Published January 11, 2014

Editorial by Wilmington Star-News, January 11, 2014.

Community college students in North Carolina have long had the option of transferring to a four-year university, but the reality is a lot more complicated than the concept. Some classes may not transfer, meaning the student who thought he had gotten his prerequisites out of the way by going the more economical community college route might instead have to take basic classes all over again. The result is that the student and state taxpayers end up paying twice for the same class.

Fortunately, that's about to change, thanks to a push from the N.C. General Assembly and an 18-month undertaking by the state community college system and the University of North Carolina. The two systems are about to roll out a list of about 300 courses that will transfer to at least one UNC campus.

A smaller number, maybe two or three dozen core classes that fulfill universities' general education requirements, will transfer to all UNC campuses, across the board. That is a major improvement.

Right now, only one class transferred universally – a freshman English course, says Brunswick Community College President Susanne Adams. She has been following the developments closely as part of a committee of the N.C. Association of Community College Presidents.

Nor is there currently a uniform way for students to know which community college classes they are taking will transfer, or to what universities. Even college advisers were confused.

The lack of a good system means that many students waste their time and money, or must extend what they thought would be a four-year commitment to five or six years, if they stay with it. We and they can't afford that.

As the legislature continues to chip away at education costs, it is doubly important that our public colleges and universities guide students on a path that will end with a degree – without unnecessary detours.

This is especially important as two things are happening: The cost of attending public four-year universities is increasing as state support decreases, and jobs that pay a living wage in the 21st century often require at least some education beyond high school. North Carolina's community college system has a major role in both of those areas.

In most universities much of the first two years is spent taking required general education courses. By attending those classes at a community college, where tuition is much lower, students can significantly cut the cost of getting a degree.

But that doesn't work if half the credits won't transfer. Some colleges, including BCC and Cape Fear Community College, have worked out independent agreements with UNCW that make transfers easier, but the proposed agreement would span statewide.

Under the new policy, which is expected to be approved next month by the state Community College Board of Trustees and the UNC Board of Governors, students will know which classes will transfer and to which universities. Only the limited number of core classes will transfer to all campuses, but the completion of those classes won't guarantee admission to a particular university.

Community college students also must take a one-credit planning class during which they map out their educational track, making it less likely that students will sign up haphazardly for classes that will not help them get into a four-year university if that is their goal.

The state's goal? Save money, and put qualified people into the workforce faster.

Both outcomes will benefit North Carolina.