Press Releases

Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.) today joined with Congressmen Luke Messer (R-Ind.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Tom Garrett (R-Va.) to introduce the Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act of 2017. This bill would streamline data sharing between two-year and four-year institutions to enable community colleges to notify transfer students as soon as they have earned enough credits to receive an associate’s degree. This process is called reverse transfer and is helpful for the almost 25% of students who transfer from two-year to four-year institutions annually. Roughly 30% of those transfer students drop out before completing their bachelor’s degree without anything to show for it. The Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act would allow students to be awarded an associate’s degree for course credit earned, even if they do not go on to complete a bachelor’s degree.

“By lifting this regulatory roadblock, we give all students the opportunity to make the most of their education and begin meaningful careers,” said Ferguson. “Students should know their options and be able to receive the diploma they earned. This legislation will help folks achieve that milestone and give them a leg up as they enter the workforce.”

“Too often, transfer students are walking away from college without a degree,” Messer said. “Our bill will make it easier for transfer students to combine credits and get a degree they’ve earned, even when life gets in the way. An associate’s degree can be a game changer, and help more Hoosiers get a better job and earn higher pay.”

In Georgia, an estimated 10,000 students are currently enrolled in our higher education system who may be eligible for the reverse transfer process. Granting students associate's degrees also increases their earning potential. Students with associate’s degrees make $400,000 more over their lifetime than those who do not.