The University of Tulsa along with regional partners Tulsa Community College, Langston University, Northeastern State University, Oklahoma State University and Rogers State University joined forces on Sept. 21, 2018, to launch the Tulsa Transfer Project.
Learn more about applying to TU as a transfer student.
Improving student transfer rates
These five Oklahoma universities and TCC will collaborate to improve the success of transferring from TCC to any of these four-year institutions. On average, transfer students lose 13 credit hours through the transition from a community college to a four-year university, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
“TCC is the state’s largest provider of transfer students. We believe this is a critical piece of the conversation to not only help our students succeed but also help increase the number of bachelor’s degrees in our community,” said TCC President and CEO Leigh B. Goodson.
Collaboration with local support
The John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education will provide the framework for the project including a self-assessment by each school and then collaboration to improve the overall transfer experience. Designed to take two years, the project is sponsored locally by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.
“We are committed to empowering young people to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, many who go to college face barriers along the way, and the goal of earning a bachelor’s degree becomes out of reach. In supporting this partnership, it is our hope that participating institutions will improve the way they serve transfer students as they work toward completing a degree and achieving their goals,” said Michael DuPont, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation program officer.
During the 2017-2018 academic year, 3,419 students transferred from TCC into a bachelor’s degree program with more than half of those students transferring to either Langston, NSU, OSU, RSU or TU.
TU’s commitment
“The University of Tulsa is committed to creating an affordable pathway for TCC students who seek a small private university experience with meaningful opportunities in research, leadership, social justice and much more. As a partner in the Tulsa Transfer Project, TU offers an inclusive environment and full support from campus to career,” said TU President Gerard P. Clancy, M.D.
The Tulsa Transfer Project will be the first of its kind for the Gardner Institute. While the nonprofit has done this kind of work nationally with a single institution or a statewide system, the Tulsa collaboration is the first for a group of regional partner institutions. Each institute will participate in the Foundation of Excellence transfer program coordinated by the Gardner Institute.