Mercer Times

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) has been recognized for its efforts in supporting transfer students, as it was recently named to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Roll. This accolade acknowledges institutions that excel in creating effective pathways for community college transfer students.

For the fall 2024 semester, TCNJ experienced a 24 percent increase in transfer applications. The recognition by Phi Theta Kappa highlights the college's commitment to developing innovative programs and support systems for these students. Brian Switay, assistant director of admissions at TCNJ, expressed satisfaction with this achievement: “Earning this distinction is something TCNJ has been striving for, and we are thrilled to be recognized by Phi Theta Kappa’s honor roll for the first time.”

Phi Theta Kappa is acknowledged by the American Association of Community Colleges as the official honor society for two-year colleges. The selection process for their honor roll involves evaluating 40 metrics related to transfer student support and success, such as financial aid availability, campus life integration, admission practices, and bachelor's degree completion rates.

Lynn Tincher-Ladner, president and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa, emphasized the importance of facilitating bachelor’s degree completion for community college students: “The goal of most students attending community college is earning a bachelor’s degree, but few do because of financial barriers and the complexity of the transfer process.” She added that they take pride in honoring colleges that provide accessible pathways to achieving this goal.

TCNJ supports its transfer students through various initiatives like the Griffins program, which pairs incoming transfers with current students who have also transferred. Additionally, TCNJ offers specialized academic advising and an orientation day tailored specifically for these students. Switay remarked on these efforts: “We put a lot of thought and effort into making the transition process as smooth as possible.”

In addition to being named to the honor roll, TCNJ was recently recognized as having one of the highest graduation rates in New Jersey—and among top institutions nationwide—for community college transfers.

For further details about TCNJ's transfer processes, interested parties can visit their Undergraduate Admissions Transfer Applicants website.