Building Stronger Transfer Pathways into Pitt

The School of Education’s 2025 Transfer Pathways Summit featured multiple keynote speakers, engaging panel discussions, and targeted action planning.

The vast majority of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree. So why do so few do it? 

Nationwide, 80% of community college students aim to transfer after earning their associate’s degree. However, only 31% transfer into a four-year institution. And among those who do, only 14% complete their bachelor’s degree.

The sobering statistics were shared by Frank Harris III, a professor at San Diego State University, during his opening keynote address at the University of Pittsburgh’s 2025 Transfer Pathways Summit on June 6 at Alumni Hall. The conference theme was “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges, and Paving Pathways.”

Despite students’ transfer goals, the harsh reality of high tuition costs, inadequate support systems, culture shock, credit loss, and opaque transfer guidelines all contribute to the leaky transfer pipeline. 

Harris said the onus is on Pitt and other institutions to develop transfer-receptive cultures that not only enroll transfer students but also value them. These equity-minded cultures, he argued, are critical for creating transfer pathways where all students will thrive. 

“Transfer students bring incredible assets and contribute to our institutions in many ways,” said Harris, who is the co-director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab. “We still have very important work to do to realize the promise and opportunity for these students.”

Answering the Call for Transfer Success

Now in its second year, the Transfer Pathways Summit drew nearly 200 registrants, including faculty and staff from virtually every school at Pitt and representatives from 11 different community colleges from across Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Led by the School of Education, the summit was founded by Renée and Richard Goldman Dean Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher. The event is offered in partnership with Pitt’s Office of the Provost and Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. 

“It was incredible to see the support at this year’s Transfer Pathways Summit, showing our commitment to enhancing transfer-friendly practices at the University of Pittsburgh,” said Zamani-Gallaher, also executive director of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges. “With a record 11 community colleges participating, there’s great excitement about creating new pathways into Pitt and advocating for the transfer students in our community.”

The Transfer Pathways Summit also featured a luncheon keynote address from Manny Smith, founder and CEO of EdVisorly, a technology company that supports community college transfer students. Smith, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, noted the long, strenuous, and “elite” process required of a cadet to complete the program, and said the average completion rate of a community college transfer student enrolled at a four-year institution is statistically lower.

“Any student who has the ambition and talent to go from community college and actually complete their four year bachelor’s degree is elite by the numbers,” said Smith.

There was also a transfer student panel where three students shared what it was like for them to transfer into Pitt. The students were Kamryn Abrial from School of Social Work, Alivia Melius from School of Education, and Michael Sipper from Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.

The students spoke highly of the support from Pitt’s professors and advisors, while sharing insights from their personal journeys. 

A Top Choice for Transfer Students

In the afternoon, Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice Nicholas C. Neupauer led a Community College Leaders Colloquium titled “Beyond Articulation” focused on everything in addition to seamless credit transfer that is needed to ensure a successful experience for transfer students. 

The panelists included Community College of Allegheny County President Quintin Bullock; Community College of Beaver County Provost Shelly Moore and Dean of School of Professions and Transfer Studies Katie Thomas; and Butler County Community College President Megan Coval and Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Josh Novak.

Finally, the event closed with an action-oriented session where participants identified key barriers to entry for transfer students and brainstormed solutions. Participants were also instructed to identify one step they will take to improve transfer outcomes in their institution in the next 30 days.

Zamani-Gallaher has set the goal of doubling the number of community college students enrolled in the School of Education within the next three years. In addition to pursuing new articulation agreements and bolstering its recruitment efforts, the school has created a Community College Scholarship and is developing wraparound support services. 

“We aim to be a top choice for transfer students,” she said. “They bring so many valuable talents, skills, perspectives, and life experiences that align with our educational mission. Simply put, we are a better school because of them.”