An interview with Project Director, Winnie Gerhardt
The Ohio Consortium for Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts in Ohio is preparing for their signing ceremony on Wednesday, December 7 at 1:30 p.m. located at The Ohio Statehouse Atrium. What exactly is the mission of this group - and what is a signing ceremony?
The Consortium for Transfer Pathway to the Liberal Arts in Ohio is composed of 25 total colleges and has plans to expand in the future.
The Ohio Consortium for Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts is a partnership of 14 independent colleges and 11 community colleges working to enhance opportunities for students earning an associate degree to transfer to an independent college or university in Ohio. Our commitment is to approve transfer pathways for community college students seeking baccalaureate degrees in biology, English, and psychology, to provide consistency in how courses transfer and strengthen the transfer culture on each campus and between institutions. The Consortium has worked closely with the Ohio Department of Higher Education to align our transfer pathways with the Ohio Guaranteed Transfer Pathways and to honor the ODHE Ohio Transfer 36 curriculum.
These transfer pathways ensure that students can begin their studies at any of these community colleges, following the transfer pathway curriculum at that school, and be well prepared to transfer to these independent colleges at junior standing, bringing in maximum transfer credit and, if enrolled full-time, on track to finish the bachelor’s degree in four semesters.
View the newly approved curriculum for the transfer pathways:
“We are providing additional clarity for students and advisors on transferable courses and expanding access for them to take their associate degree to many colleges and universities – with maximum credit, transferring at junior standing, right on track to graduate,” Project Director of the Ohio Consortium for Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts, Winnie Gerhardt said.
Project Director of the Ohio Consortium for Transfer Pathways, Winnie Gerhardt
Gerhardt came to the Transfer Pathway program with great knowledge and experience working with community colleges and transfer students. An OFIC member campus alumna from Muskingum University, she spent more than 30 years as Director of Transfer and Graduate Admission at Baldwin Wallace University.
Gerhardt has found great fulfillment in her work with a population of students who are often overlooked by institutions.
“I am extremely passionate about this work and believe it is an honor and privilege to help students take the next step in their educational journey. This project allows me to work with multiple colleges and universities toward that same goal, with faculty, academic leaders and transfer advisors who share that same passion,” she said.
During the planning phase, the program surveyed a multitude of private and community colleges across the state of Ohio to learn which liberal art majors were well-suited for the transfer pathways project and which department faculty were ready to tackle the project. From their research, it was found biology, English, and psychology degrees were the best starting point to make the most significant impact. Through generous funding from the Teagle Foundation and Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, this project was able to take off.
A signing ceremony planned for December 7, 2022 is an opportunity to lift up the individuals and colleges who made this program possible as well as pledge that all partner institutions will come together to work toward transfer student success.
“The signing ceremony also signifies next steps in the project – now that pathways are in place, how do we promote them, how do we work with them, how do we continue to build on relationships and keep them sustainable over time and how do we expand them?” Gerhardt said.
The Ohio Consortium for Transfer Pathway to the Liberal Arts is not only creating direction for students but also boosts enrollment in community and private institutions. Through the program, the process of including transfer students more in the college culture is progressing rapidly.