We are now accepting applications to expand the Washington Transfer Partnerships (WTP) beyond STEM programs. Through a pilot funded by the WA State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), Community College Research Initiatives (CCRI) is selecting 5 new transfer partnerships (10 institutions) across Washington in fields such as Education, Healthcare, Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts and beyond.
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WHAT IS THE EXPANSION PILOT?
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Building on the STP model you know well, this one-year foundation-building pilot will ask teams to pair a program or department at a 2-year institution with a corresponding program at a 4-year institution. Together, partnership teams will:
- Establish or strengthen cross-institutional relationships
- Begin or improve data sharing between partners
- Identify 1-2 key barriers in transfer pathways for low-income students
- Pilot targeted, evidence-based strategies to address those barriers
- Meaningfully incorporate student voices into their change leadership work
Any program area is eligible — think Education, Business, Healthcare, Social Sciences, the Arts, and beyond.
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WHAT WILL TEAMS RECEIVE?
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Each selected partnership will receive $10,000 ($5,000 per institution) to support their work during the pilot year.
Beyond funding, teams will benefit from:
✔ Joining a vibrant, growing statewide community of practice
✔ Dedicated support from CCRI to help identify barriers and build evidence
✔ Access to tools and resources for data sharing and transfer improvement
✔ The opportunity to shape scalable solutions that can grow with future investment
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WHAT’S THE COMMITMENT?
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This is a one-year pilot (2026-27 academic year). Participating teams will be asked to:
- Attend one virtual convening in Fall 2026.
- Conduct monthly team meetings throughout the 2026-27 school year.
- Partner with students to identify key priority areas.
- Analyze data to pinpoint specific transfer process barriers.
- Develop an evidence-based action plan with student input.
- Execute continuous improvement activities using data and feedback.
- Present progress and insights during periodic virtual webinars.
- Communicate partnership experiences to institutional and state stakeholders.
- Draft a sustainability plan to ensure long-term project continuity.
Each team should include 3-5 members per institution (6-10 total), with a mix of faculty, staff (such as advisors, transfer specialists, and institutional researchers), and one student representative per institution. Administrator involvement (e.g., a dean or chair) is encouraged and leadership approval is required
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HOW TO APPLY
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The application period is currently open until June 15th. Please share this email broadly, and encourage interested colleagues to reach out to our team a ccri@uw.edu with questions or simply begin an application:
- Attached is a Word document with the application questions; we encourage applicants to create a Google Sheet copy in which to collaborate. There is also a Canva poster for a visual summary of this email.
- To apply: Enter final responses into this Google Form and submit by June 15th: http://tinyurl.com/WATransferExpansion.
- Selection will be determined by the Student Success Center at SBCTC and CCRI by June 30th.
Thank you for everything you do to support low-income transfer students across Washington State. We hope this expansion will deepen and broaden positive change for students by advancing transfer equity.