Cal State LA to be honored for success in supporting transfer students

The Campaign for College Opportunity has named Cal State LA a 2022 Champion of Higher Education for Excellence in Transfer.

The university will be recognized for supporting transfer students during the annual Champions of Higher Education Celebration on Nov. 1.

“Together, the 2022 Champions of Higher Education are ensuring that thousands of students can achieve their goal to transfer and earn a four-year degree,” said Michele Siqueiros, president of the Campaign for College Opportunity. “That is exactly what the ADT set out to do in its creation over a decade ago, and we commend each campus for their dedication to serving students and for securing a brighter economy for our state.”

During the celebration, the university will also be honored as an Equity Champion of Higher Education for Black Students and an Equity Champion of Higher Education for Latinx Students for supporting students in earning their Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT).

An ADT, sometimes called a “Degree with a Guarantee,” is offered at all California community colleges and guarantees transfer to any California State University campus.

The goal of the partnership is to provide a clear pathway for students to transfer under the same program of study as their ADT to ensure timely and cost-effective completion of their bachelor’s degree program.

“The ADT program was incredibly helpful in ensuring a smooth transition from community college to Cal State LA and now graduate school,” said Melina V. Rodriguez, a Cal State LA transfer student who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public health this past spring.

Rodriguez earned an associate degree in public health science from West Los Angeles College in 2020. From there, she transferred to Cal State LA as a public health major in the Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services.

“Being able to take classes in my major of interest not only prepared me to transfer and attain my degree—the ADT program also provided me with the opportunity to develop a strong foundation of knowledge to successfully continue my academic journey,” she said.

While studying at Cal State LA, Rodriguez received a Williams-Hutchins Health Equity Award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recognizing her as an exceptional undergraduate public health scholar. She is now working on her master’s degree in public health with a focus on community health sciences at UCLA.

In fall 2021, more than half of Cal State LA’s undergraduate transfer students were ADT students on a guaranteed pathway in their program of study, according to the Campaign for College Opportunity. More than half of the university’s Black transfer students and Latinx transfer students were also ADT earners on a guaranteed pathway.

“We’re honored to be named a Champion of Excellence for our work with transfer students,” said Cal State LA President William A. Covino. “Cal State LA’s implementation of the ADT program is an important element of our support for transfer students on their path to graduation and achieving their dream of earning a university degree.”

Cal State LA received the Champion of Higher Education for Excellence in Transfer designation in 2018 and 2019. The university was also recognized as an Equity Champion for Excellence in Transfer for Latinx Students in 2021.