CollegeSource celebrates a successful year of community-driven discussion around transfer
San Diego, CA [January 8, 2025]—CollegeSource, a leading provider of higher education technology and services, today announced the successful conclusion of the first year of its Let’s Talk Transfer community discussion series, which saw over 900 registrants throughout the year. Launched in March 2024, the online series provides a valuable platform for transfer professionals to connect, share best practices, gather resources, and address critical issues facing transfer students.
Inspired by discussion during National Transfer Student Week
The idea for Let’s Talk Transfer emerged from a session on the fundamentals of transfer at the 2023 Transfer Week Webinar Series, another CollegeSource event, presented by team members Sarah Hatfield and Tim Horzmann. This session resonated deeply with attendees, generating such enthusiastic discussion that it extended beyond its scheduled timeframe. This positive response inspired the creation of a devoted virtual space to take place every other month for any college or university staff member interested in discussing transfer. Sarah and Tim, who together have nearly 22 years of experience in higher education before coming to CollegeSource, continued as hosts for the new series.
A successful year of transfer conversation
Testimonials from participants have highlighted the value of Let’s Talk Transfer in its premiere year. Stephanie Vazquez, Supervisor of Transfer Credit at Seminole State College of Florida, exclaimed her love for the new series, it being “more focused on transfer than any of the other conferences/meetings I attend” and because “the population attending knows details of transfer rather than just the general concept.” She also “enjoyed the format that has been used this year” of large group discussion followed by smaller breakout groups, adding that “especially since the breakout rooms are recorded, I feel like we cover more ground and I can go back later to see the breakouts I didn’t attend.“
CollegeSource is delighted to hear Vazquez’s positive feedback, among that of many other attendees who shared that they look forward to each session. Her well-echoed assessment that the series is “by far the most accessible way that I have found to connect with my peers at other institutions, get answers to my questions, and learn how other schools handle certain transfer credit scenarios” affirms the initiative’s mission of facilitating connections in the transfer community.
In 2024, Let’s Talk Transfer provided space for five engaging discussions on a wide range of topics. Below are links to session recaps with recordings.
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- Best practices in transfer evaluation – March 2024
- Training transfer credit evaluators – May 2024
- Storing transfer credit equivalencies – July 2024
- Non-traditional credit – September 2024
- Articulation agreements – November 2024
By and large, the sessions covered strategies for streamlining the transfer process, such as exploring innovative approaches to simplify transfer pathways and improve student success. The series also delved into examining strategies to support underrepresented transfer students and non-traditional credit, and close equity gaps in higher education. Additionally, Let’s Talk Transfer explored how technology can be used to improve credit evaluation, facilitate data sharing, and change institutional policies. Finally, the series provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with others working in community colleges, four-year institutions, private institutions, state and systemwide organizations, and on-campus support groups.
Dialogue driving meaningful change
In our year-end survey, attendees shared examples of real changes being made at their institutions because of the discussions.
Governors State University | University Park, Illinois
“We are looking at doing equivalencies permanently for [Joint Services Transcripts] and not on each individual JST and the side discussion about standardized tests has been helpful in us relooking at our processes.”
Gonzaga University | Spokane, Washington
“Let’s Talk Transfer peers have shared a wealth of information that has helped me incorporate discussion content in campus proposals to improve transfer and military credit treatment.”
Cornell University | Ithaca, New York
“In the process of proposing a transfer credit policy for the institution.”
Maryville University of Saint Louis | St. Louis, Missouri
“The way we send courses to faculty members for equivalency review has changed.”
“We are thrilled with the positive impact of Let’s Talk Transfer in its first year,” said Kerry Cooper, CEO of CollegeSource. “The series has created a valuable space for transfer professionals to come together, share their expertise, and learn from each other. We are grateful that community members have been active participants, helping to foster a more seamless transfer experience for students. Looking ahead to 2025, we are dedicated to continuing this initiative and translating these conversations into tangible outcomes.”
Join the conversation
CollegeSource is excited to announce the continuation of Let’s Talk Transfer in 2025. Beginning in January, the series will feature new topics every other month on the third Tuesday in a one-hour session format. Join us at our next session, featuring two guest speakers who will discuss the changes they are implementing at their institutions:
Let’s Talk Transfer Year 1 Review: Making Changes on Your Campus
Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
To register for the upcoming session, please visit collegesource.com/letstalktransfer or click the button below. Anyone who has previously registered is all set; a single registration grants access to all future sessions, with reminder emails sent before each session.
About CollegeSource
CollegeSource is the higher education industry’s trusted provider of transfer and degree achievement solutions. With a rich history spanning 50 years, CollegeSource has been at the forefront of market-changing transformations by inventing and investing in technology solutions that assist staff and students in planning and completing their academic careers. As the archival repository for the nation’s extensive higher education course catalogs, CollegeSource’s comprehensive suite of solutions, including degree audit, academic planning, and transfer credit evaluation, are relied upon by over 2,000 institutions and millions of individuals worldwide. Guided by experienced professionals from both the higher education and technology sectors, CollegeSource is a privately-held company headquartered in San Diego, California, with additional offices in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information, please visit collegesource.com.
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