Reverse Transfer

What is Reverse Transfer?

Reverse Transfer is the transfer of college credit from a bachelor's degree granting institution to an associate degree granting institution where the student was previously enrolled in that results in an associate degree awarded by the appropriate associate degree granting institution because of college credits transferred from a public four-year institution that fulfill those degree requirements after the student has transferred to said university.

Eligibility Criteria

Potential Reverse Transfer degree candidates are those students who meet all the following criteria:

Previously enrolled as degree seeking students at SOWELA.
Completed at least 25% of the academic credit earned towards an associate degree at SOWELA.
Earned a combined minimum of 60 total college-level credits.
Will not previously have earned a college degree.

Board of Regents' Role

The Board of Regents maintains the statewide repository of postsecondary student data and will conduct regular evaluations to identify potential reverse transfer candidates for all public postsecondary institutions. The Board of Regent's screening degree audit will be run to identify those students who are potential reverse transfer degree candidates based on the definition above. The list of potential candidates will be provided to institutions at least once per year.

SOWELA's Process

SOWELA will evaluate the academic records of students identified by the Board of Regents as potential Reverse Transfer candidates at least once per year and must take action to offer and award the appropriate associate degree to those candidates who consent.

Additional Policies

Institutional "last hour" policies (policies that require a student be enrolled for the final hours completed toward the degree) should be waived for Reverse Transfer degree candidates.
Upper division courses completed at a four-year institution may be considered for lower division course substitution on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with current policy at the associate degree-granting institution.
It is the student's responsibility to clear any "holds" to be considered for a Reverse Transfer degree.
Student transcript information provided by the Board of Regents should be considered as an official transcript. Diploma and transcript delivery directly to students with financial obligations to the institution are handled according to state law and institutional policy.