University of La Verne Announces Commitment to Expansion of Transfer Pathway for California Community College Students

The University of La Verne today announced its commitment and support of a transfer pathway between the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

The pathway is designed for college students graduating with an Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or an Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) from a California community college and wishing to transfer to a four-year independent, nonprofit institution like University of La Verne. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by AICCU President Kristen Soares and California Community College’s Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley to further strengthen the commitment of California’s independent nonprofit higher education sector toward the access and success of students, and affordability of quality education across the state.

This pathway is the AICCU sector’s adoption of the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) pathway between the California Community Colleges and the California State University (CSU) system. Much like the current CSU ADT pathway, University of La Verne will commit to guaranteeing admission for ADT students who apply to certain academic programs, as well as accepting a minimum of 60 units transferred, and assure these students start at University of La Verne with a junior standing.

“California’s independent nonprofit colleges and universities have an essential role to play in ensuring that all students across the state can achieve their college goals,” said Devorah Lieberman, president of the University of La Verne and chair of the AICCU executive committee. “This agreement helps to accomplish that, and will make it much easier for transfer students to earn their bachelor’s degree at the colleges and universities that are the best fit for them.”

California’s independent, nonprofit colleges and universities enroll about 8,500 transfer students annually, and, with this partnership with the California Community Colleges, hope to increase that number to ensure all students can find a place at a California institution. AICCU institutions serve nearly 189,500 undergraduate students, who reflect the rich diversity of the state.

“Projections from the Public Policy Institute of California say the state will by 2030 have a shortage of 1.1 million workers holding a bachelor’s degree needed to meet workforce demands,” Oakley said. “The Associate Degree for Transfer program is vital to our economy, and we are proud to work with the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities in providing our students additional opportunities to further their education and help guarantee their chances of achieving upward social mobility.”

AICCU colleges and universities include comprehensive research institutions, specialized professional schools, liberal arts institutions, faith-based schools, as well as campuses that focus on the arts and those that offer non-traditional study programs. They are at the forefront of new and expanding initiatives, including online courses, hybrid programs, and expedited degree programs for adult learners. In total, AICCU represents 82 institutions and more than 340,000 students across the state.