In recent years, a convergence of several forces—increased legislative involvement in higher education, governmental and philanthropic pressure to increase postsecondary degree and certificate production, and fiscal belt-tightening at colleges and universities across America—has resulted in efforts to significantly reform community college-to-university transfer and articulation processes.

One increasingly popular method of reform is the implementation of transfer associate degrees: statewide pathways or degree programs that allow students to both earn an associate degree from a community college and transfer seamlessly into a state university with junior status. This volume of New Directions for Community Colleges outlines the elements of effective transfer associate degrees and explores their implementation in six states.

This is the 160th volume of this Jossey-Bass quarterly report series. Essential to the professional libraries of presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other leaders in today's open-door institutions, New Directions for Community Colleges provides expert guidance in meeting the challenges of their distinctive and expanding educational mission.