How ECU Reduces Student Outcome Gaps and Enhances Support for Transfer Students

ECU has experienced a consistent decline in traditional transfer student enrollment. Inefficient processes critical to transfer decisions are contributing to this issue. Since most ECU transfers come from the North Carolina Community College System and ECU aims to transform the region, enhancing transfer student support will strengthen partnerships and address regional workforce needs.

ECU joined the Moon Shot for Social & Economic Mobility in May 2022 as a vanguard institution. As part of this initiative, the ECU team focused on transfer pathways and implemented the Transfer Portal technology, which was launched with students in June 2023. Through focus groups and a detailed mapping process facilitated by EAB’s Strategic Advisory Services and Moon Shot Team, opportunities for improvement were identified. As a result, ECU implemented several recommendations including better promotion of the Transfer Portal (named ECU Credit Connector), self-service resources, and other transfer-related support to improve engagement opportunities with prospective students.

ECU identified three main areas of focus for supporting transfer students: improving the credit articulation process, increasing institutional knowledge about transfers, and promoting greater adoption of the ECU Credit Connector to engage prospective students. These initiatives aim to enhance the transfer student experience and streamline internal processes for staff. Use of the Credit Connector has resulted in time and cost savings for staff.