College Lauded for Extraordinary Opportunities for Transfer Students
The international honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, selected Wilmington College to its 2018 Honor Roll featuring the top four-year colleges and universities for creating “dynamic pathways” in support of transfer students.
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) lauded the College’s “excellence and success” in providing a program of accommodating transfer students from two-year institutions. It evaluated such areas as scholarships and financial aid, admission outreach, student support services and student engagement opportunities.
One of those especially unique elements is the College’s Transfer Advantage, which recognizes general education courses, which associate’s degree recipients have taken at regionally accredited two-year schools, as satisfying WC’s graduation requirements. This is essentially unprecedented for a private institution in Ohio.
As such, the College re-shaped its general education requirements so many community college graduates can continue their pursuit for a bachelor’s degree at WC with the expectation of needing only two more years of studies.
Also, the College features a transfer-friendly transcript evaluation program and a Website designed to answer most questions and concerns of transfer students.
“Wilmington College is honored to be recognized by Phi Theta Kappa for the institution’s dedication to making the transfer process as seamless and student-friendly as possible,” said Dennis Kelly, vice president/chief enrollment officer. “Our special programs like Transfer Advantage complement partnerships with area community colleges and outreach to students at any regionally accredited institution.”
PTK is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges. Its president and CEO, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, said the recognition program reflects the growing importance of recognizing and responding to the needs of community college transfers, and promoting and sharing best practices for transfer success.
“Increasingly, students of all ages and achievement levels are choosing the community college, not only as their first step, but also their first choice in the pursuit of a quality, affordable bachelor’s degree,” Tincher-Ladner said, noting they typically do as well as students beginning college at four-year institutions.
“In order to ensure their continued success, the Transfer Honor Roll Program identifies colleges and universities that understand the unique needs of transfer students and applauds the dynamic pathways these colleges have created to continue fostering student success among transfer students at the four-year college,” Tincher-Ladner added.
As a result of the designation, Phi Theta Kappa will formally recognize Wilmington College at its national awards summit this spring in Kansas City.
Last year, Kelly received PTK’s prestigious Transfer Champion Medallion award, which recognizes outstanding innovation at both community and four-year college institutions, celebrates collaboration and creativity, and shows appreciation for student advocacy and ambassadorship.
Kelly cited the effective leadership of Adam Lohrey, director of admission, and Heather M. Miller, transfer admission counselor, the latter of whom works on a daily basis in the recruitment, admission and enrollment of transfer students at Wilmington College. Also, Miller prepared the College’s application for the Honor Roll consideration, compiling data and materials in support of WC’s candidacy.
“Heather really represented our transfer program well in presenting the application materials to Phi Theta Kappa,” Kelly said, noting she fully comprehends and appreciates the recruitment process and what it takes to enroll community college graduates and other transfer students. “Her quality work with the transfer recruitment process is reaping benefits for both the College and those students who continue their education at WC. “