Schoolcraft College and University of Michigan-Dearborn have forged a formal agreement to help students complete a "reverse transfer" associate degree while working on a bachelor's degree.

The new reverse transfer agreement creates a process that allows students who transfer from Schoolcraft College to UM-Dearborn to be awarded an associate degree that the student is most qualified for, with the help of credits earned at the university. Qualifying students must have already earned 40 credits at Schoolcraft College  prior to transfer. Most associate degrees require 60 or more credits for completion. Current estimates suggest that approximately 180 former Schoolcraft students currently studying at UM-Dearborn will meet the initial selection criteria for participation in this program.

“Essentially, if a student leaves Schoolcraft College with 40 or more credits and transfers to University of Michigan-Dearborn, UM-Dearborn will send the student a letter inviting them to participate in the reverse transfer program,” said Laurie Kattuah-Snyder, assistant director of student services of Schoolcraft College.  “Once the student signs off on the agreement, the UM-Dearborn transcript is mailed back to us and we will verify the credits can be applied and an associate of arts or general studies degree is awarded.”

The agreement marks a well-established partnership between Schoolcraft College and UM-Dearborn.
“UM-Dearborn and Schoolcraft College have a shared commitment to the success of our students, which this agreement further demonstrates,” said Daniel Little, chancellor, UM-Dearborn. “The signing of this reverse transfer agreement, the first signed by both entities, will continue to extend enriching opportunities to Schoolcraft students who choose to join the UM-Dearborn community. It is our hope that this partnership will facilitate students in adding to their academic credentials, thereby increasing their readiness for their future careers.”

Leaders from both institutions joined together to celebrate the agreement during a special signing ceremony, including Conway A. Jeffress, Ph.D., president; Richard Weinkauf, vice president of instruction; Cheryl Hagen, dean of student services; Michelle Koss, assistant dean of student services; Nicole Wilson-Fennel, director of enrollment services/registrar; and Kattuah-Snyder from Schoolcraft College and Daniel Little, Ph.D., chancellor; Christopher Tremblay, assistant vice chancellor; Janice Lewis-Boyd, registrar; Nicate Ferrill, admissions counselor; Deb Peffer, director of admissions and orientation; Stanley Henderson, vice chancellor for enrollment management and student life; Malayappan Shridhar, associate provost; and Cathy Boatin, transfer specialist from University of Michigan-Dearborn.

As directed by the State of Michigan in Public Act 62, other Michigan community colleges and universities have recently signed similar agreements to provide a seamless transfer experience and increase student retention and degree completion at both levels. This reverse transfer agreement between Schoolcraft College and UM-Dearborn is the first of its kind in southeast Michigan.

“Students are generally aware that associate degree credits can be applied toward bachelor’s degree requirements, but they are not always familiar with the concept of reverse transfer," said Dr. Jeffress. “Affordability and portability are two major benefits community colleges provide to students. Ironically these are also often held against community colleges when graduation rates alone are considered. With reverse transfers, we can now count as success stories those students who received what they needed at Schoolcraft and then moved on to pursue their goals elsewhere.”

Schoolcraft College is a public two-year college, offering classes at the main campus in Livonia, Haggerty Road between Six and Seven Mile Roads; at the Radcliff Center in Garden City; and online at www.schoolcraft.edu.
Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, University of Michigan-Dearborn is a metropolitan university serving southeastern Michigan, committed to excellence rooted in strong academics, innovative research and programming and civic engagement. The University has nearly 8,900 students pursuing more than 100 bachelor's, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business and education.  A top-ranked university with a faculty devoted to teaching, and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn has been shaped by its history of partnering with local leaders and communities, and is committed to finding solutions for the challenges that face the region.