The Teagle Foundation and Arthur Vining Davis Foundations (AVDF) are partnering to address the academic obstacles that community college students face when trying to transfer to independent four-year colleges.
Four out of five community college students hope to earn a bachelor’s degree, but few are able to succeed by transferring to and graduating from a four-year institution. The Teagle Foundation and AVDF’s partnership under Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts will provide planning grants of $25,000 over 6 to12 months and implementation grants ranging from $250,000-$350,000 over 24 to 36 months to improve opportunities for students to transfer from two-year public institutions to four-year private liberal arts colleges. The grant program is focused on building comprehensive curricular frameworks between community colleges and independent colleges to ensure transferability and applicability of credits and timely completion of the baccalaureate in the liberal arts. Focusing on the academic dimension has a useful precedent in the public sector, on which independent colleges can base their own efforts by looking to curricular mechanisms to promote transfer that have been enacted as a matter of state policy.
“We have a responsibility to close the gap between aspiration and reality for community college students who hope to earn a bachelor’s degree,” said Andrew Delbanco, President of the Teagle Foundation. “By helping students reach and succeed on their campuses, liberal arts colleges can also help themselves. Community colleges are an under-tapped source for colleges facing enrollment challenges, and community college students bring a diversity of experience that enhances the educational community for everyone. The Teagle Foundation is thrilled to partner with the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations on this important initiative.”
“Until now, public investment and private grantmaking in the transfer space have typically focused on strengthening pathways from public two-year to public four-year institutions, but there are untapped opportunities for strengthening transfer access to independent liberal arts colleges,” said Michael Murray, President of the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. “This joint partnership between the Arthur Vining Davis and Teagle Foundations aims to address the academic obstacles that community college students face when transferring to independent colleges, which we believe will help alleviate some of the financial hurdles students face when they take the next step in their education to earn the baccalaureate degree.”
For further details, please see the request for proposals and research report on overcoming pitfalls and leveraging opportunities for transfer pathways from community colleges to independent colleges.
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The Teagle Foundation works to support and strengthen liberal arts education, which we see as fundamental to meaningful work, effective citizenship, and a fulfilling life. Our aim is to serve as a catalyst for the improvement of teaching and learning in the arts and sciences while addressing issues of financial sustainability and accountability in higher education.
The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations were organized in 1952 under a living trust established by Mr. Arthur Vining Davis. The Foundations invest in our common future by supporting inclusive higher education and health care, vibrant spiritual communities, and a clean environment.