Florida Times-Union

http://jacksonville.com/metro/2016-12-04/colleges-universities-renew-focus-22

About 5 percent of all community college transfer students in Florida are enrolled at the University of North Florida.

Most of them attended Florida State College at Jacksonville and are taking advantage of Florida’s “2+2” program that helps state college students go on to earn bachelor degrees from public universities.

“Nearly half of the juniors and seniors enrolled in the universities came from the Florida College System,” its chancellor, Madeline Pumariega, told the state Board of Education last month. “So we are that pipeline.”

As state lawmakers and higher education officials continue to focus on ways to help students graduate in four years with marketable degrees and as little debt as possible, there is renewed focus on “2+2.” The program is especially helpful for students who don’t have the grades at high school graduation to be admitted to their state university of choice or who can’t afford it.

UNF and Florida State College at Jacksonville last year created the Connect program to better help students in this situation. People who don’t meet UNF’s admissions criteria are able to enroll at FSCJ and, upon earning an associate’s degree, make the transfer. Students who are accepted to the program and maintain passing grades are guaranteed admission to UNF. After delays, the program is scheduled to launch in the spring.

Other successful initiatives include the University of South Florida’s FUSE program with five nearby state colleges and the partnership between University of Florida and Santa Fe College.

“These programs are designed around the unique circumstances of each university,” said Alan Levine, chairman of the Board of Governors’ Select Committee on 2+2 Articulation.

The committee has looked into statistics that show state college transfer students do as well as, and sometimes better than, students who enter the state’s 12 public universities as freshmen. The committee is also studying ways to improve synergy between state colleges and universities and will review recommendations in January.

One of the biggest things colleges can do is make sure to work with students who wish to transfer to state universities to make sure they are taking the right prerequisites, have selected the right associate’s degree program and that they meet other admissions criteria when the time comes, Pumariega said.

“I think that the earlier we know where a student’s intention is to transfer, “she said, “the better we can make sure that their academic plan fits that.”

Tia Mitchell: (850) 933-1321