How does STLCC handle transfer credits to other colleges?

I'm currently studying at St. Louis Community College and planning to transfer to a four-year university. How are credits usually transferred from STLCC? Are there any common issues or tips for making sure credits are accepted?

Responsibility for evaluating transfer credit and accepting it toward degree requirements typically lies with the institution you are transferring to, not the one you're transferring from. That being said, the procedure generally begins with you sending over your official transcripts from STLCC to your prospective four-year university. Once received, the university's admissions or registrar’s office would evaluate your credits to determine how many will transfer and how they will fit into your intended major or program.

Key things to consider include:

1. Articulation Agreements: Certain colleges or universities might have articulation agreements with STLCC. These agreements signify that the four-year institution recognizes STLCC coursework and simplifies the credit transfer process, often ensuring that all credits transfer. Academic advisors or transfer counselors at STLCC would be the ones to ask about these agreements.

2. Course Equivalency: Even without an articulation agreement, many introductory or common "core" courses (like English 101 or Intro to Psychology) are likely to transfer between institutions. You might have more trouble with highly specific, major-focused courses that don't have a direct, one-to-one equivalent, but don't get discouraged - they might still count for credit, but only as a general education requirement, or an elective, rather than counting towards your major.

Generally, there are a few common issues that students might face during this transfer process:

1. Courses transferred as "Elective": As noted above, while the credits might transfer, the receiving institution may categorize them as elective credits rather than crediting them towards specific degree requirements.

2. Not all credits may transfer: Colleges have the right to select which credits they will accept. As a result, it’s possible that not all transferred credits from STLCC will count towards your chosen program, which could mean you need to retake some coursework. That could potentially prolong your time to graduation, so make sure you plan for this possibility, as there's never any guarantee of exactly which credits will transfer.

3. Minimum Grade Requirement: Transferring credits often require you to have achieved a certain grade in the course. Ensure you meet the requirement.

As a tip, stay organized. Keep course syllabi and assignments from your STLCC classes, in case your new school needs more information about what you studied. The more informative your documents are, the greater your chances of your credits being accepted. And don't hesitate to reach out to advisors at STLCC, as well as at the school(s) you're considering transferring to, to ensure you're understanding everything correctly. Good luck!