Transfer excellence in South Carolina is a crucial component to minimize the cost of higher education and enable on-time college completion: this allows students to join the workforce and begin contributing to the economic competitiveness of our state. 

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, in partnership with all South Carolina colleges, universities, and lawmakers, is dedicated to making our state a leader in transfer. Since 2021, the General Assembly’s interest in student mobility has increased, with the passage of budget provisos directing responsible state agencies to work together and ensure students with Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degrees can transfer to public four-year colleges. The CHE also promulgates regulations to provide further direction and structure. Currently, there is significant momentum and motivation for a statewide transfer agreement and a need to establish specific promising practices for the state, which will require updating many processes and creating new resources.

This page is intended as a central resource to all involved in this important work, and it will continue to expand and evolve as we progress on this journey.

Milestones and Initiatives:

2021: Formation of the State Transfer Task Force

To begin the work of making South Carolina a leader in transfer, the CHE invited all South Carolina higher education institutions to join an ad hoc state transfer task force in August of 2021. The CHE partnered with the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), and the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education (JNGI) to facilitate the task force, which included more than 30 key South Carolina transfer-related personnel from the state’s two-year technical colleges, public four-year colleges and universities, and independent colleges.

The task force used an evaluation model comprised of a set of aspirational principles to analyze the transfer and articulation systems and policies in the state. Priorities were also aligned with the CHE’s 2019 Ascend 60x30 strategy to increase higher education attainment from 48 percent in 2023 to 60 percent by 2030.

Implementation of the recommendations in the action plan began with the establishment of Transfer Leadership Council, which is facilitated by the CHE. This council is comprised of representatives from the different sectors of higher education institutions (public research, doctoral/professional, regional, comprehensive, technical, and independent institutions). 

South Carolina State Transfer and Articulation Action Plan (March 7, 2023)

• Transfer Action Plan Website

Transfer Promising Practices (April 3, 2023)

The CHE, in collaboration with South Carolina two- and four-year, technical, state, and independent institutions, is developing a set of South Carolina promising practices to support seamless transfer between institutions while maximizing credits toward degree completion.

• Promising Practices for SC Transfer (PDF)
• 2023 South Carolina Transfer Task Force Action Plan

Transfer Excellence Convening (April 3, 2023) 

On April 3, 2023, the CHE and the SHEEO/JNGI transfer task force members hosted the inaugural Transfer Excellence Convening. The convening was a one-day event that provided South Carolina transfer champions from each institution the opportunity to learn more about the work and formally recognize the SHEEO/JNGI transfer task force, better understand the transfer report, and collaborate on promising transfer practices implemented at each institution. Approximately 140 transfer champions from across the state, representing 45 two- and four-year, technical, public, and independent institutions, as well as other higher education organizations attended the convening. Participants at the convening heard from the SHEEO/JNGI transfer task force, the President and Executive Director of the CHE, and state and national leaders in transfer.

• Transfer Excellence Convening Slide Presentation (PDF)
• John N. Gardner National Best Practices (PDF)
• Meeting Materials and Agenda 

Statutory Authority for Transfer (2023)

Since 2021, the General Assembly’s interest in student mobility has increased, with the passage of budget provisos directing responsible state agencies to work together and ensure students with Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degrees can transfer to public four-year colleges.  As statewide transfer work advances, the CHE and its partners provide information and input to the General Assembly as requested, ensuring leaders and stakeholders are equipped with the most current information and data.

• 2023 CHE Transfer Report to the SC General Assembly (PDF)

Transfer Excellence Convening (October 4, 2023)

• Event page: che.sc.gov/tec2023 
• Convening Agenda (PDF)
• CHE Slides: Update on Transfer, Transfer Council, Next Steps and Takeaways (PDF)
• Improving the Transfer Experience at USC Columbia: A Team Based Approach (PDF)
• Best Practices for Bridge Collaborative Programs (PDF)
• Removing Transfer Obstacles: Meta Majors and Guided Pathways for University Transfer Students (PDF)
• Common Course Learning Outcomes: A Pilot Project Paving the Transfer Pathway (PDF)
• Reverse Transfer Journey: A partnership between USC Upstate and Greenville Technical College (PDF)
• News: 2023 Transfer Excellence Convening Highlights
• Watch: Convening Insights from Participants and Staff
• Watch: Student Panel on the Transfer Experience

Statement of Commitment to Develop a Statewide Transfer Agreement (October 27, 2023)

Presidents and deans from public institutions have co-signed an agreement to work in partnership with the CHE’s Transfer Leadership Council to develop and sustain a comprehensive transfer process in South Carolina, based on a framework that aligns with the provisions of Proviso 117.135 (2023).

• Statement of Commitment to Develop a Statewide Transfer Agreement as of Oct. 27, 2023 (PDF)

Ithaka S + R Transfer Explorer Partnership (February 27, 2024)

South Carolina was one of the first three states in the country to partner with the national nonprofit Ithaka S+R to pilot a platform designed to streamline the college transfer process by providing current and clear information to students and those who support them. Aiken Technical College, Coastal Carolina University, the College of Charleston and Denmark Technical College Lander University were in South Carolina's initial cohort for the first two years of the Transfer Explorer platform’s implementation and refinement. 

Related Content:

• South Carolina joins national pilot with Ithaka S+R to streamline college transfer
• Ithaka S+R’s “Universal Credit Transfer Explorer” Launching in Three States in 2024

South Carolina Transfer Outcomes Dashboard (April 5, 2024)

The South Carolina Transfer Outcomes Dashboard addresses recommendation two of the State Transfer and Articulation Action Plan and also complies with South Carolina Proviso 117.135, which mandated the adoption of action plan recommendations across the state system of higher education by April 2024. The dashboard is intended to promote transparency and data-driven decision-making, and facilitate informed discussions and collaborations among institutions, policymakers, and other key stakeholders.

Review of the 86 Universally Transferable Courses

South Carolina currently has 86 courses listed in SC TRAC which are deemed universally transferrable by South Carolina higher education institutions. The CHE and transfer leadership council will continue to examine the 86 courses for transferability and provide a final evaluation will be representative of all public higher education institutions in South Carolina

South Carolina Transfer and Articulation Center

The South Carolina Transfer and Articulation Center (SC TRAC) was created as a one-stop shop for transfer students, advisors, and institutional leadership. SC TRAC provides students with access to transfer agreements developed between public institutions in a searchable database and enables students to compare current courses against equivalent courses at another institution. In a recent review of SC TRAC from January 2023, a total of 1,468,351 current course equivalencies were found. In addition, the analysis indicated 1,345 total transfer agreements. Transfer agreements can be updated at any time with a recommendation to be reviewed annually by the institutions

• SC Transfer and Articulation Center (SC TRAC)

South Carolina Military Credit Mobility Task Force (Established in 2022)

The SC Military Credit Mobility Task Force was established to examine ways for South Carolina service members to maximize credit mobility towards certifications, associates, or bachelor’s degrees, rather than electives. The task force is a collaboration among the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, institutions of higher education, the South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and other stakeholders to review existing transfer and articulation agreements established to help servicemembers use transferable credit toward degree completion at our higher education institutions. Also, the task force will explore possible ways to increase the use of military credits that will transfer to academic credits, and ultimately towards a certification or degree.

• SC Military Credit Mobility Task Force landing page
• SC Public Institutions offering Transfer Credit for Military Experience / Education

External Links:

• SHEEO
• John N. Gardner Institute
• Ithaka S + R