Reverse Transfer

A lot of people are really confused by the concept of credits, it seems. I've run into a number of people who really and truly cannot understand why a student switching majors has to spend more time in school. In their mind it's like high school, you do 4 years and then you get a piece of paper.

Funny story from the Navy...

I was a personnelman, I did personnel stuff. My last billet involved me updating service records. In particular, I added education to the records which was where I first became aware of issues of accreditation and the like. One day this guy comes in and he's smug as all hell. He's getting out. He served his time. He was an IT2 (Information Technology Specialist Second Class, E-5). He couldn't wait to get out. He made his contempt for the Navy known, along with his not needing us as he had certs and "three degrees (associates, bachelors and masters). So he was going to be just fine.

He came in to have his three degrees added to his record. He was pissed we didn't do it automatically (why and how would we do that?). I told him I needed his transcripts. He brings them in.

No degree awarded. None. Not 3. Not 2. Not even 1.

Dude gets pissed at me when I point this out. I observe that maybe he ordered his transcripts BEFORE his final grades posted and his graduation was processed. Nope, I'm just ignorant, you see. He looks at the transcripts and, in the most condescending tone imaginable, proceeds to walk me through his transcript speaking very, very slowly.

"See, here I got 60 credits. That's an associate's degree. Then I got another 60 credits. That's my bachelor's degree. Then I got these 36 credits. That's a masters."

He wasn't enrolled in a degree program. His courses were all over the place. The bulk of his 120 credits were all lower division. I was just getting into degree planning at TESC (I didnt know about the other two at the time) and I remember thinking that MAYBE he had a bachelors if he went to TESC. But this guy was absolutely not nearly as credentialed as well as he was acting. He was also 100% serious and I don't believe trying to deceive me. He was just wrong.

Of course, joke's on me. I looked him up some years later just to see. That guy stuck with me. He works in IT and seems to have decent jobs. His LinkedIn also claims all three of the degrees that, at least back then, he still hadn't earned. Though it wouldn't be the first time someone skated past HR because of either no verification, crappy verification or they accepted his asinine explanation when confronted with the truth.

 

"A lot of people are confused..." is an understatement. I WORKED IN THE SYSTEM and was confused. I've shared before that I was the department's student advisor for 10 years before I'd even heard the word CLEP. One factor of many that contributed to our single digit graduation rate - but the big one is that the push is always ONLY on getting people INTO college, never on getting them OUT. Never.
In for the win. Enrolled is great - keep them registering and paying. Out? Uhhh squirrel.

I assure you, reverse transfer is nothing more than an effort to "fix" that same low CC graduation rate experienced by the rest of the country. CCs are always in the teens, and until they were accountable, they couldn't care less. You guys know this is true- you guys follow/read the same pubs and mags I do. The only reason higher ed cares that their graduation rates are in the garbage is that they've been called out.
enter the magic reverse transfer program. Voila! "Look government, they shouldn't be counted in our numbers, we would have graduated them if they'd have stuck around...see...."

AND another thing, to imply that "the workforce needs credentialed employees...." in any way shape or form has anything to do with the drive and motivation behind these programs is laughable. "In many cases, students begin at a community college, earn a substantial number of credits, transfer to a four-year institution, and drop out without anything to show for their work. "
bless your heart Chancellor Joe Garcia.....