Excelencia’s Policy Agenda: Retention and Transfer

Overview

Latino students fit a post-traditional learner profile and are more likely to take multiple paths through higher education, often balancing work, family, and financial responsibilities. Students’ decisions to pause their education or change institutions are typically driven by life circumstances, not academic ability. Policy must support seamless transitions and degree completion. We prioritize:

• Strengthening Transfer Pathways: Expanding credit transfer agreements and articulation policies that ensure students don’t lose time or credits when transitioning between institutions.

• Supporting Proactive Student Support Systems: Encouraging institutions to adopt advising, coaching, and financial aid structures that recognize the realities of Latino students and provide tailored support.

How can policymakers support access to excellence through a variety of education pathways?

• Include transfer pathway development and transfer student success initiatives as allowable activities under Higher Education Act Title V, Part A grants. 

• Update federal data to more transparently report transfer student outcomes, including credit accumulation, credit loss, bachelor's completion, and workforce outcomes, disaggregated by race/ethnicity and income.

• Strengthen partnerships between higher education institutions and high school districts for high-quality dual enrollment programs. 

• Provide financial incentives to institutions to retain Latino students on their path to graduation.