About the HBCU Transfer Equity Initiative

The Community College of Allegheny County is proud to present our new Transfer Equity Initiative in partnership with the PGH HBCU Collaborative and participating Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

 

What is Transfer Equity?

Participating in the transfer process is a common experience for community college students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree. Various equity gaps associated with the transfer process primarily impact diverse students of color. 

Such equity gaps in the transfer process include:

  • A lack of diverse transfer pathways to Minority Serving Institutions
  • A loss of community college credits
  • Extended time required to earn a four-year degree
  • Higher amounts of student loan debt
  • Inconsistent and situational academic advising

CCAC is committed to eliminating systemic barriers by improving the transfer pathway experience for all students through our Transfer Equity Initiative, in partnership with the Pittsburgh HBCU Collaborative and participating Minority Serving Institutions.  

Transfer Equity Program Mission

Our mission is to increase the number of culturally diverse students who earn an associate degree at CCAC intending to transfer to Minority Serving Institutions, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AAPISIs).

Transfer Equity Initiative Goals

  • Increase the number of diverse CCAC students earning associate and baccalaureate degrees
  • Foster a college culture that supports the mission of MSIs and their critical role in educating, empowering, retaining and graduating diverse students of color
  • Deliver accurate and up-to-date information regarding the cultural, educational, financial and social opportunities for diverse students at MSIs
  • Develop and sustain meaningful partnerships with participating member institutions, local community partners and regional alumni

What are Minority Serving Institutions?

Minority Serving Institutions are colleges and universities that primarily serve diverse students of color. MSIs are unique in their missions and operations, as their primary missions were initially established to educate diverse student learners. MSIs include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions.

 

Types of MSIS

View a list of all Minority Serving Institutions as of 2022 here.

HBCUs have a proud history and legacy of achievement. In the face of discrimination against Black Americans by many higher education institutions, HBCUs created pathways to opportunity and educational excellence for Black students throughout our nation. That legacy continues. Today, more than 100 HBCUs are located in 19 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, serving nearly 300,000 students annually. HBCUs vary in size and academic focus and serve diverse students and communities in urban, rural and suburban settings.

Accredited HBCU Listings

A Hispanic Serving Institution is an institution of higher education with an enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent students of at least 25% Hispanic students.

Currently, there are 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States. TCUs offer over 358 programs, including apprenticeships, diplomas, certificates and degrees. These programs include 181 associate degree programs at 23 TCUs, 40 bachelor’s degree programs at 11 TCUs, and 5 master’s degree programs at 2 TCUs. These educational institutions are distinguished by being controlled and operated by federally recognized American Indian tribes and located mainly in the Midwest and Southwest; TCUs service approximately 30,000 full- and part-time students.

Accredited TCU Listings

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) are colleges or universities with an undergraduate enrollment of at least 10 percent Asian American and Native American Pacific Islanders.

AAPISI Resource Guide

(United States White House Initiative, 2023)

(University of Pennsylvania Center for MSIs, 2023)

 

 

What attracted me to Tennessee State University was the affordability, small classes and low student to teacher ratios. What I found was just how diverse the campus was, especially the College of Engineering, where I met students, faculty and staff from all nationalities and backgrounds. I found my time at TSU to be a very enriching experience.

Jankie Cohen

 

 

Partnering Member Institutions

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

(HBCU) (PA-TAOC Agreement)

Cheyney, PA

www.cheyney.edu

Lincoln University of Pennsylvania

(HBCU)

Lincoln University, PA

www.lincoln.edu

Wiley College

(HBCU)

Marshall, TX

www.wileyc.edu

 

 

CCAC intends to expand our list of member institutions as additional affiliation agreements have been established with the college and participating institution.

 

CCAC'S Articulation Agreements

Take a look through all of CCAC's articulation agreements.

Articulation Agreements

 

Interested?

Are you interested in learning more or taking advantage of this program? Fill out the form linked below.

Learn More

Transfer Equity Advisors

Ralph Proctor, Ph.D.

Christopher Robinsin, D.Ed., M.S.W., L.S.W.

Michael Talley

Jankie Cohen

Deborah Cooper

Jeffrey Williams

Kathy Sheffey

Judy Cox

Dr. Crystaline Barger

Pittsburgh HBCU Collaborative

 

For More Information

Dr. Ralph Proctor

Dr. Christopher Robinson

Jeffrey Williams

Dr. Crystaline Barger