Cornell joins 18 institutions in approving Iowa Private Transfer Guarantee
Cornell has joined 18 other private, nonprofit colleges and universities across the state in approving the Iowa Private Transfer Guarantee admission agreement with Iowa community colleges.
Through this agreement, students who meet the eligibility requirements and are pursuing an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at any Iowa community college are guaranteed admission to the 19 private, nonprofit colleges and universities that make up the Iowa Private Transfer Collaborative (IPTC).
“This will help simplify the transfer process for students who wish to continue their educational journey at a liberal arts college,” said Cornell College Associate Vice President for Student Life and former Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Kate Kauper. “It’s a great opportunity to remove obstacles and allow for a more transparent pathway for students to pursue their bachelor’s degree.”
The IPTC received a three-year $350,000 grant from the Arthur Vining Davis and Teagle foundations in June 2023 to support the strengthening of transfer pathways from community colleges to private four-year institutions.
The grant will fund work that ensures the seamless transfer of academic credits and places a greater emphasis on retention rates for students who transfer from community colleges to four-year institutions. Private institutions will work to adopt the existing statewide transfer majors, including biology, chemistry, English, history, psychology, and sociology. Other transfer credit policies will also be implemented, including the expansion of general education articulation agreements and reverse transfer opportunities.
All students must apply to their intended four-year schools, either through the transfer or first-year admission process. High schoolers completing their associate degrees while still in high school must still apply through the first-year/freshman application process but are considered eligible students under the Iowa Private Transfer Guarantee agreement.
Members of the IPTC are Briar Cliff University, Buena Vista University, Central College, Clarke University, Coe College, Cornell College, Drake University, Graceland University, Grand View University, Loras College, Luther College, Morningside University, Mount Mercy University, Northwestern College, Saint Ambrose University, Simpson College, University of Dubuque, Wartburg College and William Penn University.
The two nonprofit organizations facilitating the distribution of the grant money are the Iowa Higher Education Loan Authority and the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges & Universities.
