Creating New Pathways into Pitt for Community College Students

The School of Education recently held a daylong conference designed to spark new action and form stronger commitments around making the University of Pittsburgh the top transfer-school destination for community college students across Pennsylvania and surrounding states.

More than 150 people attended the inaugural Transfer Pathways Summit on May 17, 2024 at Alumni Hall.

Among them were higher education officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Education; leaders from community colleges in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Warren, and Westmoreland counties; and representatives from Pitt’s central admissions office, the Provost’s Office, and academic schools across the University.

Created by Pitt Education Renée and Richard Goldman Dean Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher, the Transfer Pathways Summit focused on ways to make transferring a seamless transition from the associate’s degree to the baccalaureate.

“This work has to be an institutional priority, set from the top down,” said Zamani-Gallaher during her opening remarks at the summit.

Zamani-Gallaher noted that community college transfer students are a “hidden gem” within four-year institutions. Nationwide, there are more than 10 million students enrolled in community colleges and they account for approximately 40% of all students enrolled in higher education institutions in Pennsylvania.

Zamani-Gallaher strives to make sure community college transfers feel welcome at four-year institutions. This work involves “moving them from the margins to mattering,” she said.

Catalysts for Transformation

Frankie Santos Laanan giving his keynote address — Dr. Frankie Santos Laanan gives the morning keynote address

The Transfer Pathways Summit featured three keynote speakers: Frankie Santos Laanan, dean of the University of Utah College of Education; Linda L. Garcia, executive director of the Center for Community College Student Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin; and Carrie Kisker, president of Kisker Consulting Group and director of the Center for the Study of Community Colleges.

“Remember your work is not just a job. It is a catalyst for transformation,” Laanan told the audience during his presentation.

There was also a panel discussion in which representatives from Pitt’s central admissions office, the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, and the Office of the Provost spoke about community college transfer and transition into Pitt.

Additionally, there was a student panel of transfer students who joined Pitt from both two- and four-year institutions, as well as morning and afternoon breakout sessions to dive deep on transfer topics.

The breakouts addressed state regulations around transfer, a case study of transfer experiences within the David C. Frederick Honors College, and ongoing grant-funded projects and research-practice partnerships within Pitt Education.

Building Partnerships

Student panel, with student smiling during discussion — A panel of transfer students share their experiences

Community colleges are central to Zamani-Gallaher’s research, teaching, and professional service. In addition to her role at Pitt Education, she is executive director of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges.

Zamani-Gallaher envisions the Transfer Summit as the start of impactful partnerships resulting in more community college graduates continuing their studies in Pitt Education.

She is laying the groundwork through the establishment of new $5,000 scholarships for incoming and returning community college students. Additionally, she is establishing relationships with the leaders of Pennsylvania’s 15 community colleges and overseeing more targeted outreach and recruitment.

“My work is all about the to and through of pathways into higher education for students,” says Zamani-Gallaher. “I am excited by the success of the inaugural Transfer Pathways Summit and look forward to building on the momentum in the months ahead.”