Transfer and Guaranteed Admission Agreements (GAA)
Information for Students Planning to Transfer
Since admission policies and program requirements vary among four-year colleges, all students need to be acquainted with the specific requirements of the college or university of their choice. Students should be aware that the most important contact for discussing transfer is the transfer officer at the four-year college or university of their choice. Contact with this individual should be made early in the student’s academic career at RCC to ensure that the student is on the appropriate path for transfer. Students should also consult and work closely with a new student advisor and/or faculty advisors for transfer planning assistance. Many colleges and universities require a letter of intent to transfer after a student completes 15 credit hours at RCC. Because every college has different requirements, it is strongly recommended that students research the college or university of their choice using the Transfer Virginia portal (https://www.transfervirginia.org), and the specific college/university website.
Transferring to Other Colleges
RCC offers a transfer program leading to the Associate of Arts and Science degree. This program is designed for students who plan to complete their freshman and sophomore years of college work at the community college, and then transfer to a four-year college or university to complete the junior and senior years of a bachelor’s degree. Students pursuing the Associate of Arts and Sciences Transfer Degree and related specializations (AA&S) are candidates for transfer to four year colleges and universities upon degree completion. Students completing Associate of Applied Science Degrees that lead to employment may be eligible to transfer to degree completion programs offered by four year colleges and universities through special articulation agreements. Students in these programs should consult their faculty advisor or a counselor for further information.
The RCC website contains information about college transfer options for RCC students. Most four-year colleges provide online transfer guides indicating the community college courses that transfer with equivalencies at the four-year college. The Virginia Education Wizard provides a transfer planning tool for future and current RCC students. The State Council of Higher Education in Virginia provides information for students to research options for transferring from a Virginia Community College to a four-year institution in Virginia.
A course with a grade of less than “C” is usually not accepted for transfer even if the student earned a degree. Students must submit a completed transcript request form online through myRCC or on paper to the Admissions and Records Office to have an official copy of their transcript forwarded to the intended transfer college or university.
Guaranteed Admissions and Transfer Agreements with Four-Year Colleges and Universities Students who graduate from RCC with an associate’s degree and a minimum GPA may obtain guaranteed admission to colleges and universities participating in Guaranteed Admission Agreements (GAAs) with the Virginia Community College System Guaranteed admissions and transfer agreements detail the terms of transfer for RCC students completing associate degree programs. Agreements define the way courses, programs, or entire categories of programs transfer to another institution and may include admission guarantees. Current agreements are available for review on the RCC website. Students should read and understand the terms and conditions of GAAs with their four-year college or university of choice.
Students completing Associate of Applied Science Degrees that lead to employment may be eligible to transfer to degree completion programs offered by four-year colleges and universities through special articulation agreements. Students in these programs should consult their faculty advisor or a counselor for further information.
Transfer Grants
Students who entered a Virginia community college since 2007 may be eligible to receive up to $2,000 annually when transferring to a four-year institution. To qualify, students must complete an Associate of Arts & Sciences Degree with a 3.0 GPA and meet financial eligibility requirements. The grant will be applied to tuition expenses at a public or private four-year Virginia college or university. The grant provides $1,000 for all eligible students, with an additional $1,000 for students who pursue undergraduate work in engineering, math, technology, teaching, or science.
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