Centering Equity in Transfer Partnerships

Abstract

Transfer partnerships do not necessarily produce equitable outcomes. A lack of scholarship identifying critical practices needed to make partnerships equitable impedes transfer success. Based on a review and analysis of existing literature, this paper proposes a three-stage transfer partnership framework focused on designing, implementing, and assessing partnership practices that center equity. Kania and Kramer’s theory of collective impact and Bensimon and Malcom’s equity scorecard are used as dual lenses through which partners should approach these efforts. This framework encourages practitioners to adopt innovative ways to center equity and carries specific implications for admissions and retention professionals. Keywords: equity, transfer students, partnerships, diversity