It’s common knowledge that credits earned at an Alabama community college for core classes like math, English, history and science will transfer to public four-year universities in the state as students work toward a bachelor’s degree.
It may not be as known that some of the state’s private four-year colleges and universities, including Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, have agreements in place for credits from a community college to transfer private colleges, too. In fact, according to Stillman’s Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness, Dr. Victoria Boman, all credits – including electives – a student transfers to Stillman from an Alabama community college can count toward the student’s bachelor’s degree.
“We understand that transfer students are the fastest-growing population on a college campus, so to us it’s important to make sure that we have policies and procedures in place to make that transition as smooth as possible,” she said.
“We are able to accept all credits from the community college because we align our student learning outcomes with those that are outlined by the Alabama Community College System.”
Stillman is among private colleges and universities in Alabama who celebrate National Transfer Student Week. Every third week of October, National Transfer Student Week brings awareness to the transfer process and the excitement of that transition for students across the country.
In addition to the STARS (Statewide Transfer and Articulation Reporting System) Guide that academic advisors use to assist students with transferring, the community colleges have dozens of transfer agreements in place with four-year institutions in and around Alabama to make the process as seamless and specific to community college students.
Stillman recently signed an agreement with Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa to help address a deficit of certified teachers in Alabama. The agreement provides a seamless pathway for Shelton State students to transfer to Stillman, along with additional academic advising provided from Stillman while the student is still attending Shelton State.
According to DeMarcus L. Hopson, Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Access at Stillman College, an additional perk that comes with transferring to Stillman from any community college include a $3,000 transfer scholarship if classes are attended in-person, and a $2,000 transfer scholarship if students choose to enroll online.
“Students are also eligible to apply for all other scholarships we have available, he said.
Micah Bender, a recent Shelton State alum who transferred to Stillman this semester, said he was pleased with the campus and the experiences at Shelton State that prepared him for the transition.
“This journey has been excellent,” he said.