Briar Cliff University joins 18 other four-year institutions in approving Iowa Private Transfer Guarantee admission agreement with Iowa community colleges

October 23, 2024

Briar Cliff University is committed to making our campus a welcoming place where students of all backgrounds are empowered to succeed and reach their full academic potential. To support this commitment, Briar Cliff University has joined 18 other private, nonprofit colleges and universities across the state of Iowa in approving the Iowa Private Transfer Guarantee admission agreement with Iowa community colleges.

Through this agreement, students who are pursuing an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree at any Iowa community college are guaranteed admission to the 19 private, nonprofit colleges and universities that make up the Iowa Private Transfer Collaborative (IPTC). The IPTC received a three-year $350,000 grant from the Arthur Vining Davis and Teagle foundations in June 2023 to support the strengthening of transfer pathways from community colleges to private four-year institutions.

“Iowa’s community colleges strive to meet every student where they are, no matter their background or path forward,” said Kristie Fisher, Kirkwood Community College President and Chair of the Iowa Association of Community College Presidents. “This agreement will help us increase success for students who plan to transfer to one of Iowa’s outstanding private colleges.”

The grant will fund work across the state aimed at bringing together faculty from community colleges and four-year institutions to ensure the seamless transfer of academic credits and place a greater emphasis on the retention rate for students who transfer from community colleges to four-year institutions. Private institutions will work to adopt the existing statewide transfer majors biology, chemistry, English, history, psychology, and sociology. Other transfer credit policies will also be implemented, including the expansion of general education articulation agreements and reverse transfer opportunities. 

Participating community colleges are Des Moines Area Community College, Eastern Iowa Community College, Hawkeye Community College, Iowa Central Community College, Iowa Lakes Community College, Iowa Valley Community College, Iowa Western Community College, Indian Hills Community College, Kirkwood Community College, North Iowa Area Community College, Northeast Iowa Community College, Northwest Iowa Community College, Southeastern Community College, Southwestern Community College, and Western Iowa Tech Community College. 

Members of the IPTC are Briar Cliff University, Buena Vista University, Central College, Clarke University, Coe College, Cornell College, Drake University, Graceland University, Grand View University, Loras College, Luther College, Morningside University, Mount Mercy University, Northwestern College, Saint Ambrose University, Simpson College, University of Dubuque, and Wartburg College and William Penn University.  

The two nonprofit organizations facilitating distribution of the grant money are the Iowa Higher Education Loan Authority and the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges & Universities.  

*High schoolers completing their associate degrees while still in high school must still apply through the first-year/freshman application process but are considered eligible students under the Iowa Private Transfer Guarantee agreement. All students must apply to their intended four-year schools, either through the transfer or first-year admission process.