Panel suggests that dual admission programs can help tackle state’s transfer obstacles

A consortium of education officials and specialists from community colleges and universities in California reached a consensus during a recent roundtable hosted by EdSource that dual admission could serve as a promising remedy to the state’s ailing transfer systems.

Approximately 2 million students are currently enrolled in California’s 116 community colleges, but only a mere 10% transition to a four-year university within a two-year period, as per research conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California, also known as PPIC.

“Ultimately, it is crucial for us to streamline the transfer process, ensuring students receive upfront information that is actionable, enabling them to complete the necessary courses and successfully transfer,” stated Hans Johnson, a senior fellow at the PPIC Higher Education Center.

Participants in the roundtable discussion titled “Is dual admission a solution to California’s broken transfer system?” voiced unanimous support for making dual admission available statewide to all interested students to facilitate smoother transfers.

The roundtable delved into a 2021 state law aimed at enhancing transfer rates in California. The postsecondary education trailer bill, known as Assembly Bill 132, directed the University of California to establish programs for students who did not meet freshman admission criteria due to limitations in the high school curriculum or personal and financial constraints.

Dual admission initiatives grant students guaranteed entry into specific four-year universities after completing designated lower-division courses at a community college. This differs from dual enrollment, where students earn college credits while in high school.

This legislation has the potential to revolutionize the state’s higher education pathways, considering California ranks poorly at 41st for high school graduates enrolling in four-year universities but excels at third place for community college enrollment, according to Johnson.

“Transfer students play a vital role in ensuring that California offers a meaningful pathway for educational and economic advancement for our population,” Johnson emphasized.