COVID-19’s Effect on Transfer: Toward a Clearer Picture

As the COVID-19 pandemic injects profound uncertainty into postsecondary education enrollments this fall, the risk of drastic upheaval is real. Some reports suggest large numbers of students are considering transferring from four-year institutions to two-year community colleges to earn cheaper credits and be closer to family. There’s also valid concern that such changes will fall disproportionately on learners from low-income backgrounds, communities of color and rural communities.

That’s why Ascendium is co-funding a two-year research project by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center to document, in near real time, how the pandemic is affecting higher education transfer patterns. Ascendium is contributing $545,500 to the project from its COVID-19 Impact Response Fund. ECMC Foundation joins us in supporting this effort, which will produce nine reports that provide institutions, systems, legislators and more with accurate data and critical insight on emerging patterns. Now more than ever, we all need to keep reforms rolling and deliver the promise of postsecondary education to those who need it most.

Read more about Ascendium’s interest in this project.