Latest updates come closely following National Student Transfer Week

The Utah Board of Higher Education released the latest updates regarding its transfer initiatives today following National Student Transfer week, which is celebrated annually throughout the country during the third week of October.

The Board of Higher Education has prioritized streamlining transfer within the Utah System of Higher Education and is working to make the transfer process as easy and successful as possible for Utah students.

More than one in three college students nationally will have transferred from another institution during their higher education journey, and a top reason students pause their college journey is to fulfill other life commitments. 

“We want students to know that they can complete their college certificate or degree, even if they transfer,” said Dave R. Woolstenhulme, commissioner of higher education. “There is no need for students to worry about taking courses they don’t need to reach their college goals; there are tools, faculty and staff here to help students with the transfer process.”

A key tool for students to explore their transfer options is the Utah Transfer Guide (utahtransferguide.org). This free online tool analyzes student transcript information from any public degree-granting college or university in the state and helps students understand what transfer options are out there for them across the System.

Other key transfer updates from the System include:

• Transfer maps, common to all USHE degree-granting institutions, were finalized recently across multiple majors. These maps make it possible for students to transfer seamlessly after two years of full-time study in their major and graduate in four years without acquiring excess credits or having to repeat courses. This saves students both time and money on their way to graduation.
• Established common course numbering and shared course outcomes across all USHE degree-granting institutions makes it easier for students to transfer individual courses within the System.

• General Education course numbering is aligned — Across USHE, when a student fulfills a general education requirement at one college or university, it will fulfill a similar requirement at a different institution within the System if they transfer. This cuts out unnecessary repetition, time and money from a student’s college journey.
• The Interstate Passport program further makes it possible for students who have met all general education requirements at any participating college or university to transfer and have those credits recognized by participating institutions across the country as well. This makes it easier for students to transfer to USHE colleges and universities without having to retake general education coursework.
• Agreements between technical colleges and degree-granting institutions help students stack technical certificates into degree programs if they choose to continue their higher education career.

Transfer is just one initiative outlined within the Board’s strategic plan to increase college access, completion, affordability, workforce alignment, research and more.