The Tartan Transfer program is introduced by Radford University for students attending community colleges in Virginia

Radford, Virginia – With the launch of its Tartan Transfer program, Radford University is simplifying the transfer process for students from Virginia’s community colleges.

Transitioning from a two-year community college to a four-year university might provide additional difficulties and stress.

“I know that many of us in this area struggle financially, and with the opportunity to apply and the abundance of financial aid available to students, it’s very easy for us to apply and very easy for us to get help,” said Resa Mattson, a Radford Transfer student.

With 20% of its students being transfers, Radford University is one of the top four-year universities for enrolling transfer students. To give students a smooth transfer experience, Radford has teamed with eight community institutions in western Virginia. Together, they created the Tartan Transfer Program.

Among them are Wytheville Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College, Virginia Highlands Community College, New River Community College, Patrick & Henry Community College, Mountain Empire Community College, and Mountain Gateway Community College.

“We wanted to eliminate all of that early because students lose credits, struggle to find housing, and are unsure of their place,” said Dannette Gomez Beane, vice president for enrollment management and strategic communication at Radford University.

“We all need that one-on-one intensive help, especially students who are trying to figure things out,” stated Dr. Peter Anderson, vice president for instruction and student services at New River Community College.

Program participants will take advantage of a variety of initiatives designed to make higher education more accessible, more economical, and career-focused. These consist of:

– Affordability: VCCS partners offer tuition free options and the Radford Tuition Promise covers tuition for qualified Radford students.
– Maximized Transfer Credits: Curriculum alignments ensure the maximum number of credits are realized.
– Personalized Advising: Students are assigned a Tartan Transfer advisor that help students plan a course of study.
– Tartan Experience: Access to special events and activities on campus before transferring.
– Career Preparation: Special internship and co-curricular experiences prepare participants for career success.

Every year, more than 150 students from New River Community College transfer to Radford. One of those students, Mattson, thinks future transfer students will benefit from the Tartan Transfer program.

“I wish I had more information because I had to look for transfer information in high school. The majority of students just enroll in a university. That information will be accessible, which is why I think the Tartan program is so fantastic,” Mattson added.

Our transfer students at New River Community College, in my opinion, have already witnessed the accomplishments of their predecessors, so they are aware of how well other students have performed. From here, they travel to Radford. Therefore, I would advise them to emulate their former peers,” Dr. Anderson added.

Additionally, the Tartan Transfer Program will supplement the existing financial aid initiatives that students can qualify for, like the Radford Tuition Promise and ACCE.

We are doing this because we don’t want kids to take out loans, ask their parents for money, or graduate from college in debt. In other words, you can basically receive an associate’s degree and a bachelor’s degree with no tuition charges. Additionally, to ensure that they remain in the western region of Virginia and retain that talent,” Gomez Beane stated.