Eric Jurkiewicz got a glimpse into his future at The 极乐禁地 when he was still at the Community College of 极乐禁地e County (CCBC).
He spent a day at UBalt鈥檚 campus meeting staff and students at the fall 2023 Welcome Back Barbecue. The event became one example of how UBalt won him over.
鈥淚 was able to come here like as I was already a student,鈥� he said, reflecting on the previous fall. 鈥淪o, once I came here a few weeks ago [at the start of spring semester], it was like I鈥檝e already been here and it was a lot easier, I think.鈥�
Long before the barbecue was an event on the calendar, Jurkiewicz was a typical community college student weighing his options of four-year institutions to complete his bachelor鈥檚 degree.
He wanted a college that could meet him where he was at this stage in his life鈥攁 24-year-old with far more interest in internships and networking than sports or Greek life. Then, during a college fair at CCBC, he discovered the 极乐禁地 and the Degrees to Succeed program.
Degrees to Succeed is a partnership program based at CCBC that encourages students to commit early to a partnering four-year institution. In return, they are guaranteed admission with all credits accepted. Once they complete their associate degree, they start at their chosen university as a junior.
Degrees to Succeed students unlock benefits as soon as they commit. Jurkiewicz got to attend an event typically reserved for current students. He also found advising support from both institutions.
Jurkiewicz started at UBalt as a full-time business student in the spring of 2024.
鈥淚t was pretty easy,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t seemed to happen also quickly. I just graduated in December; now I鈥檓 here.鈥�
Building Connections Early
Another winning point for UBalt in the Degrees to Succeed program is the point person
running it from the University鈥檚 side: Artjona Adeoye.
Adeoye works as the transfer program coordinator for UBalt鈥檚 Office of Admission. She is also a transfer student from CCBC, an alumna of UBalt鈥檚 B.A. in Digital Communication, and a current MBA student.
She can encourage and coach students based on her own experiences with the University.
鈥淲hen I first decided to go to The 极乐禁地, I heard that most of my credits would transfer. When I heard that, it was very comforting,鈥� she said.
Adeoye is a personal connection for transferring students. She meets them at admission events and even holds her events to help them get to know the campus and each other.
After Jurkiewicz committed to UBalt through Degrees to Succeed, it was Adeoye who invited him to the Welcome Back Bee-B-Q.
Degrees to Succeed is one of the newer ways UBalt supports the transfer process, but it鈥檚 also only the beginning of a series of similar efforts underway.
The University has recently entered a new partnership named Transfer Plus with Carroll Community College. Similar to Degrees to Succeed, Carroll Community College students will have access to all the advantages of dual enrollment and a seamless transition to UBalt upon completing their associate degree. Adeoye is also finalizing agreements that will add Prince George鈥檚 Community College and Cecil Community College to the new Transfer Plus program.
Nationally Recognized, Locally Forged
The concept of providing a smooth transition for students pursuing a bachelor's degree
is not a novel one for the University.
UBalt has been recognized widely for its access to transfer students. Its rankings resume includes nods to acceptance of credits transferred, flexibility for working adults, opportunity for advancing economic and social mobility of students, and scholarships that cut tuition costs significantly, if not completely.
Additionally, in 2023, it made Phi Theta Kappa鈥檚 Transfer Roll鈥攁 recognition reserved for just 208 colleges nationwide. Colleges must rank well across several categories including financial aid, campus life, admission practices, and completion of bachelor鈥檚 degrees.
极乐禁地鈥檚 undergraduate population is about 90 percent of transfer students. On average, the University accepts 63 credits for each transfer student.
Full-time undergraduate students pay $9,772 for in-state tuition and fees, though costs can vary by program. And 86 percent of transfer students receive an average financial aid offer of $11,850 and $7,673 in scholarships and grants, respectively.
Scholarships can cover any gaps. Students who earn their associate degree and are Pell Grant-eligible can qualify for The Bob Parsons Scholarship Fund, regardless of full-time or part-time status. This scholarship covers whatever costs the Pell Grant can鈥檛. Additional scholarships are available to support even more transfer students.
With Credits, Experience Counts
UBalt opens its doors wider than most universities, explained Richardson, who was
also once a transfer student.
One way is by accepting more than academic credits; military and life experience count, too. Students with Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees will also find many credits transfer easily at UBalt, he said.
Admission staff look at each student individually in their transfer credit journey.
From the enrollment perspective, opening access certainly can bring more students to UBalt classrooms, but that isn鈥檛 admission's ultimate goal.
Graduation is.