Nearly 90 faculty and staff from 17 New Jersey community colleges met at Princeton University’s Carl A. Fields Center for the first Community College Transfer Pathways Institute. The event focused on ways to help more community college students transfer to selective four-year institutions.
The conference, held on February 6, was organized by Princeton’s Program for Community College Engagement (PCCE) in partnership with the Office of the Provost. Participants included professors, deans, advisers, and counselors who support students interested in transferring.
“I appreciate the recognition of the talent and motivation of community college students,” said Victor Stolberg, associate professor and counselor at Essex County College. “It’s wonderful to see how transfer students thrive once they get into these colleges and universities.”
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Cole Crittenden stated, “Princeton is committed to supporting educational opportunity and access broadly.” He added that the gathering showed how PCCE partners with community colleges to strengthen teaching and advising while expanding transfer pathways.
Sarah Schwarz, director of PCCE, explained that the institute aimed to bring together “transfer champions” from different roles within community colleges. “Their vital work directly supports students on their journeys through higher education,” Schwarz said. “Having all that expertise in one room and being able to think with them, and with our presenters, about how to broaden pathways to and through the college and provide more resources and support for transfer students was truly exciting.”
Kevin Hudson, associate director for institutional diversity and college opportunity at Princeton, emphasized: “Presence matters. It is important that students’ most trusted leaders in community colleges see Princeton and our peer institutions as attainable and affordable.”
Panels during the event addressed topics such as admissions processes, financial aid options at selective schools like Princeton, Lehigh University, and Swarthmore College; updates on national efforts like the American Talent Initiative; and new tools from Common App designed for transfer learners.
“Our goals today are to demonstrate why high graduation rate, low-debt, selective institutions can be a great destination for your wonderful students, to demystify some of the perceived barriers to transferring to those institutions … and to talk about the ways these institutions are ready to welcome your students,” Schwarz told participants.
Mirta Tejada from Middlesex County College commented: “To get this cross-section of people together to talk about challenges and discuss solutions is so valuable. I appreciate that Princeton is taking on this initiative and recognizing that community college transfer students can really contribute to the community here.”
Panelists highlighted affordability at selective schools. Yulia Korovikov from Swarthmore noted: “Please encourage your students to look beyond the sticker price.” She explained financial aid may cover tuition as well as housing or food costs.
Courtney Meldrum from Princeton’s Office of Financial Aid said: “Princeton has one of the most generous financial aid packages in the country. We meet 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.”
Representatives from Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program presented research showing mentorships help transfers succeed at four-year schools. They also shared stories such as Hadi Kamara—a military veteran who transferred from Northern Virginia Community College—who became a Rhodes Scholar at Princeton.
Attendees later discussed best practices in small groups before returning ideas back home. Stolberg remarked: “I learned a lot today that I will share with my students. I will tell my students these schools want them on their campuses. There are resources for them. There is a support system for them.”
Tejada found information about financial aid particularly helpful: “Not only is there generous financial aid for lower-income students but for middle- and upper-middle income students at many of these schools,” she said.
Laura Green from Salem Community College observed that nontraditional student opportunities were highlighted during discussions.
Nichol Killian from Mercer County Community College added: “I want students to know these schools are not out of reach for them… We have talented students. They do belong at a Princeton, at a Swarthmore, at a Lehigh… The faculty and staff…are so approachable [and] ready to help.”
Princeton reinstated its transfer admission program in fall 2018 with an emphasis on applicants from diverse backgrounds including low-income families, veterans, or those coming directly from community colleges.
Through initiatives such as its Emma Bloomberg Center-led Transfer Scholars Institute—which helps New Jersey community college cohorts navigate admissions—Princeton continues efforts toward increasing access across public or private four-year institutions nationwide.
This was PCCE’s second campus convening after last year’s Humanities Community College Convening; another meeting focused on humanities programs statewide is planned this spring.
PCCE operates within Princeton’s McGraw Center for Teaching & Learning overseeing several outreach programs including prison education initiatives.
