Approximately 40 percent of students at universities nationwide matriculated from community colleges. These transfers often face an uphill battle as they adjust to new learning environments and ensure their college credits are accepted by four-year institutions.
A number of students, however, have risen above such challenges and serve as examples for others. These include a number of Cougars who arrived from two-year colleges and are finding success at UH.
During , UH recognizes the achievements of its transfer population, which includes students like C. T. Bauer College of Business student Tyler Higginbotham.
With roots in Indonesia and Bali, Higginbotham arrived in The Woodlands at the age of 8. After graduating from The Woodlands High School, he enrolled at Lone Star College.
His time there helped prepare him for the rigorous curriculum he鈥檇 embrace at UH. He said that cost was certainly a factor in attending a community college, but Lone Star College courses helped him focus his academic perspectives.
鈥淐ommunity college also gives you time to explore what you want to do,鈥� Higginbotham said. 鈥淐hoosing a major and figuring out what you want to do in life can be stressful, so completing those classes while exploring your interests gives you some breathing room. Of course, that still requires due diligence on your part. You have to take the initiative to look into your passions and figure out what fits you.鈥�
Higginbotham, a finance major, has done just that. He is now a senior and serves as president of UH鈥檚 chapter of The Finance Association.
He said the transfer process was fairly easy and that the University has provided opportunities he may not have received at other institutions.
鈥淭he opportunities UH offered inspired me to come here,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eing in the middle of Houston puts you close to so many companies, industries, and people. That was a big draw for me.鈥�
For others, starting at a community college was an option to stay close to home and family. Strategic Communication major Isabelle Garcia came to the University after attending Alvin College.
鈥淚 never saw myself going far from home when attending school. I prefer to be home or in a familiar area,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen looking at potential schools, the University of Houston was already at the top. Then, I saw there was a program that fit what I wanted to study. I knew for sure it was the school for me.鈥�
For Garcia, the community college experience prepared her for UH. She said that attending a smaller institution allowed her to acclimate to a higher education environment and, ultimately, transition into a larger learning environment.
Garcia鈥檚 classmate and friend Gisselle Ayala also transitioned from Alvin College to UH. Ironically, the two didn鈥檛 know each other very well until they had classes together at the University.
Ayala agrees that being close to home was a bonus, but the academic programs at UH were the main draw. Like Garcia, she is also a Strategic Communication major, and they are in a few classes together.
鈥淚鈥檓 a family-oriented person, so being close to my family was a big factor in choosing UH,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 also made sure to research the University and saw that the communication program is amazing. My older brother is also a student at UH, and hearing his positive experiences solidified my choice.鈥�
Fellow Cougar Alisha Yousuf鈥檚 journey brought her to Houston from Canada and New Jersey. Once in the Bayou City, she enrolled at Houston City College (HCC). She agrees that the smaller environment was helpful but acknowledges that the support system at UH and HCC made the difference in her transition.
鈥淭he transfer process was a really great experience,鈥� said Yousuf, a communication sciences and disorders major. 鈥淢y transfer adviser was really amazing. She helped me choose classes that would transfer and fit well with my schedule and future degree plan. She was also always willing to listen and to help with any comments and concerns that I had throughout the entire process. The transition became a lot easier and less overwhelming with her on my side.鈥�
She said that UH was a natural choice for her given the institution鈥檚 academic programs. Her interests in speech pathology, linguistics, and helping others meshed well with her major.
Students such as Yousuf, Ayala, Garcia, and Higginbotham are just some of the many transfer students at UH. Each fall and spring, UH welcomes approximately 4,000 new transfers to its student population.
These students are supported by a robust team of advisers and programming aimed at helping them matriculate seamlessly. Among these programs is Houston Guided Pathways to Success (Houston GPS), a multi-institutional collaborative aimed at increasing graduation rates and streamlining the transfer process.
Houston GPS partner institutions include UH, the 91视频-Clear Lake, the 91视频-Downtown, Prairie View A&M University, Texas Southern University, Texas Woman鈥檚 University, Texas A&M University-Victoria, the Houston City College System, Alvin College, College of the Mainland, Galveston College, the San Jacinto College District, Wharton County Junior College, Lee College, and the Lone Star College System.
The initiative was launched by UH Provost Emeritus Paula Myrick Short in 2014 and supports student success through strategies such as degree maps and proactive advising.
Another program is UH Next, a transfer pathway within UH鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS). It鈥檚 a clear 鈥�2+2鈥� route that helps students transfer smoothly from regional community colleges into four-year CLASS bachelor鈥檚 degree programs at UH.
"UH Next is an opportunity to expand college access and prepare more Texans for the job market while accelerating student progress toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree and reducing the cost of a four-year education," said Todd Romero, CLASS associate dean for undergraduates and the administrative leader of the UH Next initiative. "It benefits communities, students, and families."
"UH Next expands access to a 91视频 education while addressing two of the most important barriers students face, time and cost, by creating a more seamless and predictable path from an associate degree to a bachelor鈥檚 degree and ultimately a job," added CLASS Dean Daniel P. O'Connor.
Additionally, there is UH鈥檚 Transfer Advising Program, which assists in providing information and guidance for future transfers.
鈥淭ransfers comprise a significant portion of our student population,鈥� said UH Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Diane Z. Chase. 鈥淎t UH, we want to provide them with resources that will support their success from the time they arrive on campus until the moment they earn their degrees. Houston GPS, UH Next, and the Transfer Advising Program are just some of the University鈥檚 programs aimed at doing just that.鈥�
Chase added that National Transfer Student Week is particularly important because it spotlights the persistence of students continuing their trajectory toward bachelor鈥檚 degrees and, ultimately, professional success following UH.
"National Transfer Student Week is an important opportunity to celebrate the talents, perspectives, and determination that transfer students bring to our campus every day,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t the 91视频, we are proud to provide clear, supportive pathways that help students seamlessly transition from community colleges to complete their four-year degrees. Transfer students are an essential part of our Cougar family, and we remain dedicated to removing barriers and empowering them to achieve their academic and professional goals."
Since 2017, National Transfer Student week has placed a spotlight on the success of transfer students. The annual celebration is coordinated by the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students and will run Oct. 19 鈥� 23.