Reverse transfer deal to help both two-, four-year students

The path from community college to a four-year higher education institution has been, for many, one full of obstacles and unexpected bumps in the road. And to go in reverse and fill in some blanks, was more-or-less impossible.

But a recent agreement signed between the Community Colleges of Spokane and Eastern Washington University seeks to smooth the journey in both directions.

According to a news release, EWU and CCS have agreed to what is called a Reverse Transfer agreement, allowing students who transfer to Eastern without completing an Associate of Arts (AA) degree or earn their two-year degree as they take courses at Eastern to pursue their major.

“This innovative program aligns with Eastern’s vision to create multiple pathways for students to achieve success,” EWU President Mary Cullinan said in a news release. “A strong partnership with the Community Colleges of Spokane is a crucial part of expanding those opportunities.”

The agreement will lead to more efficiency for students moving from the community colleges to Eastern, and allow them to earn their associate and bachelor’s degrees in a timely manner.

“We believe this agreement creates a stronger connection with Eastern and provides another option for our students,” Christine Johnson, Chancellor of Community Colleges of Spokane said. “This serves students who want to complete an AA degree and also want to gain early engagement in their major at Eastern.”

This is the first reverse transfer agreement in Washington state, but is a program offered by colleges in many other states and was modeled after a similar agreement in Oregon where Cullinan served as president of Southern Oregon University. An estimated 100 students per year would benefit from this new option.

To meet the requirements of this program, students must have at least 60 credits when transferring from Spokane Community College or Spokane Falls Community College. While students are pursuing their major at EWU, their coursework can be transferred back — in reverse direction — to the community college to complete their AA degree. Through this agreement, students will have met the obligation of their general education requirements at Eastern.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.