UAlbany Launches Expanded Transfer Agreements with HVCC for Aspiring Students

October 22, 2019

The University at Albany and Hudson Valley Community College have forged new partnerships to support students with seamless transfer pathways from HVCC to UAlbany.

Given the challenges of decreasing enrollment, retention and graduation rates nationally in higher education, these collaborations will support students to reach the finish line with a four-year degree.

“Our enhanced partnerships with HVCC will ensure that students can create a plan to transfer successfully and graduate with a baccalaureate degree in four years,” said UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez. “Our goal is to help these students feel connected to UAlbany before they even arrive, so that on their first day of classes here at the University, they already have a sense of community, have made connections and know that they are prepared to succeed here.”

Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
The UAlbany Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program assures UAlbany acceptance to HVCC students pursuing their associate’s degree. Students will receive UAlbany support services during their two years at HVCC, and must maintain GPA minimums and meet guidelines specific to their academic programs. Once they earn their HVCC associate’s degree, they are guaranteed admission to UAlbany.

The TAG program is a win-win for students and the two partnering institutions. During their first two years, students will have outstanding advisement from HVCC with supplemental support from UAlbany, including an academic advisor, a UAlbany ID card, peer mentoring, and research opportunities with UAlbany faculty, as well as access to UAlbany online courses, workshops and events.

Pathways Program
Along with TAG, HVCC and UAlbany formalized the Pathways Program, which offers those students not initially accepted to UAlbany a second opportunity for success. Eligible students can enter a guaranteed transfer process by effectively completing two full-time consecutive semesters at HVCC and meeting specific UAlbany academic requirements. When they reapply, their transfer application fee will be waived.

Students in the Pathways Program also receive enhanced UAlbany support, including advisement, tutoring and financial aid.

“Agreements like the ones we are celebrating today are another tool in our efforts to guide students toward completion and their ultimate goals. We want students to have a clearer understanding of what they are studying and where it will take them,” said HVCC President Roger Ramsammy. “This major expansion of our partnership is one step toward closing that completion gap and helping students pave the way to a bright future.”

The TAG and Pathways Programs are made possible by the myriad academic articulation agreements between the two institutions, which allow a seamless transfer transition from HVCC associate’s degree programs to multiple program majors in all nine of the University’s schools and colleges.

The two institutions have been longtime partners, with UAlbany being the most popular transfer destination for HVCC graduates.

Together, the institutions’ two leaders continue to pursue opportunities to provide pathways to students. In April of this year, presidents Rodríguez and Ramsammy visited Costa Rica to explore a variety of innovative academic and research collaborations with the Central American country. The goal was to build a pipeline to attract Costa Rican students to HVCC with the opportunity to transfer to UAlbany to complete a four-year degree, as well as recruit both undergraduate and graduate students directly to UAlbany.