Kutztown University Named to Elite Transfer Honor Roll

Jackson, Miss. (02/13/2018) — Phi Theta Kappa has named Kutztown University to its 2018 Transfer Honor Roll, which identifies the top four-year colleges and universities creating dynamic pathways to support transfer students. The honor roll includes 112 schools from across the nation. Kutztown is one of only six Pennsylvania schools and one of two members of the State System of Higher Education.

Open to all regionally accredited baccalaureate degree-granting institutions, Phi Theta Kappa's Transfer Honor Roll recognizes excellence and success in community college transfer pathway development. To be considered, participating institutions complete an application detailing their community college transfer programs. Applications are evaluated in the areas of scholarship and financial aid, admissions outreach, student support services, and student engagement opportunities.

Transfer Honor Roll colleges will be recognized at PTK Catalyst 2018, Phi Theta Kappa's annual convention, in Kansas City, Missouri, April 19-21, 2018.

"I am humbled by this honor," said Dr. Warren Hilton, vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, Kutztown University. "This recognition by Phi Theta Kappa acknowledges our commitment to student success. The partnerships we have developed with community colleges along with our Phi Theta Kappa scholarship and transfer book award have made Kutztown University a destination for high achieving transfer students."

"Transfer students know that Kutztown University is the type of place you imagine when you think of college," said Jeffrey Jones, director of Admissions and special assistant for enrollment management and diversity recruitment. "But that's not all we have to offer- there's much more than meets the eye. The individual attention transfer students receive with quick and accurate credit evaluations and access to special interest housing for transfer students continues to be a magnet for transfer students from both far and near."

"Phi Theta Kappa members can continue to grow as scholars and leaders in Kutztown University's chapter of Tau Sigma National Honor Society - a national honor society designed exclusively for transfer students," added Hilton. "The supportive yet challenging environment at Kutztown University fully prepares our students for their future. At Kutztown, transfer students grow, not into someone new, but into themselves. At their best, there's no limit to what they can do. It's good to be golden."

Phi Theta Kappa President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner said the recognition program reflects the growing importance of recognizing and responding to the needs of community college transfers and promoting and sharing best practices for transfer success. And, she noted that colleges and universities that provide high-quality programs and services to community college transfers benefit from the rich perspective and diversity these students bring to the student body, and ultimately to the nation's workforce.

"Increasingly, students of all ages and achievement levels are choosing the community college, not only as their first step, but also their first choice in the pursuit of a quality, affordable bachelor's degree," Tincher-Ladner said. "These students are scholars, leaders, and global citizens, and it has been shown over and over that they do as well as students beginning college at a four-year college or university.

"In order to ensure their continued success, the Transfer Honor Roll Program identifies colleges and universities that understand the unique needs of transfer students and applauds the dynamic pathways these colleges have created to continue fostering student success among transfer students at the four-year college."

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in nine nations. For more information visit ptk.org.

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