Transfer student success beyond STEM | Expanding what works
Students in every field can face a complicated path to a bachelor’s degree when they transfer between institutions. The Non-STEM Cohort of Washington Transfer Partnerships takes what we learned from STEM Transfer Partnerships and applies it to new fields, including education, business, the social sciences, and languages. Five teams of two-year and four-year colleges are working together to find and remove the barriers that keep transfer students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, from finishing their bachelor’s degrees.
Each team includes faculty, staff, administrators, and one paid student team member from each institution. Student team members bring their own experience of transferring, help collect data on what students face, and help shape solutions from the student point of view. Teams join the STEM Transfer Partnerships community of practice, where all cohorts share what they are learning across the state.
The Non-STEM Cohort is funded by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and coordinated with the SBCTC Student Success Center. The work supports Guided Pathways across Washington’s community and technical colleges.
The Pilot Year
The 2026–27 pilot year builds a foundation for the partnerships and produces evidence to guide future growth. During the year, teams will:
- Establish or strengthen partnerships across institutions
- Begin or improve data sharing between partners
- Identify one or two key barriers in the transfer pathway for low-income students
- Pilot a targeted, evidence-based strategy to address those barriers
- Create an action plan and a sustainability plan so the work continues after the grant period
How CCRI Supports the Teams
CCRI selected the five partnerships using an equity-focused rubric, aiming for a range of regions, fields, and starting points. Each team works with a CCRI coach who joins its monthly meetings and provides technical assistance, data guidance, and templates for action planning. CCRI also offers onboarding, periodic webinars, and guidance on hiring and supporting student team members. Teams connect with the STEM Cohort at statewide convenings.
We are grateful for the research to practice partnership between our CCRI team at the University of Washington Seattle and the Washington State colleges and universities leading this new non-STEM transfer initiative. By bringing what works in STEM transfer to new fields, their partnerships build knowledge, center student voices, and expand our statewide learning community. Together, their efforts advance transfer success for students from low-income backgrounds across a wider range of pathways.
Cascadia College & University of Washington Bothell (Education)
Centralia College & The Evergreen State College (Social Sciences)
Green River College, Tacoma Community College & University of Washington Tacoma (Culture, Arts, Communication & World Languages)
Spokane Community College, Spokane Falls Community College & Eastern Washington University (Business/ Accounting)
Whatcom Community College & Western Washington University (Sociology)