Drexel University and the Community College of Philadelphia are coming together to support area students who are working to earn a four-year degree. With support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ithaka S+R and the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, the schools will launch a pilot program next fall for Philadelphia-area students to build the academic foundation to pursue a Drexel degree and access its experiential education model recognized for its success in helping students achieve their career and academic goals.
The Drexel Direct Admission Transfer Pathway program was recently announced as one of 16 projects to receive an American Talent Initiative grant as part of its effort to support and expand promising practices that help more students from low-income backgrounds earn a four-year degree.
ATI’s $250,000 grant will allow the schools to map an academic path for students who apply to Drexel, but need additional academic preparation before matriculating. Students will have access to educational resources from both institutions and, upon completion of the program, they will be eligible for direct admission to Drexel and its Drexel Promise 50% tuition scholarship program.
“This is an exciting moment for Drexel and CCP because it strengthens our longstanding relationship and allows both institutions to support students on a course that is proven to set them up for success after graduation,” said Dawn Medley, EdD, Drexel’s senior vice president for Enrollment Management. “Providing students with the opportunity to seamlessly join their CCP degree with a nationally recognized experiential education from Drexel, this innovative program will put students far ahead in the workforce and promote Philadelphia as a city with two educational partners dedicated to giving students opportunities for success.”
CCP students have long represented the largest portion of Drexel’s transfer enrollment, with 30 program-to-program articulation agreements paving the way for students to easily transfer credits. ATI’s support of the pathway pilot program through its Innovation Driven by Evidence-Based and Advances Strategies (IDEAS) Fund, recognizes the compelling opportunity of formalizing a direct transfer program between the institutions.
Eligible students will be identified via their application to Drexel. They will begin their coursework at CCP and transition to Drexel within their curricular progression after earning an associate’s degree, with all credits transferring with them. To support this transition, Drexel is partnering with EdVisorly, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to streamline the transfer process.
“Students and families deserve a seamless transfer experience, free from the complexities of transfer credit calculations,” said EdVisorly CEO Manny Smith. “Our goal in supporting programs like the Drexel-CCP direct admission pathway, is to provide a seamless, accessible, and mobile-friendly transfer experience that removes obstacles so that students can confidently and successfully achieve their goals.”
As part of the program, students will also benefit from the academic support services and experiential education resources offered by both schools, including new support programming created specifically for students on this pathway — setting them up to take full advantage of the opportunities presented as they move through their academic career at Drexel.
“We know that highly motivated students with a vision for their future and the diligence to make it a reality are quite successful in Drexel’s experiential education model,” said Melissa Pennestri, Drexel’s dean of Undergraduate Admissions. “Students who begin their academic career at a community college have consistently demonstrated that their academic drive is a perfect fit for Drexel. Over the last three years, our six-year graduation rates for students who entered via community college range from 1.3 to 3.1% higher than traditional first-year students. Coupled with increased support from this program we expect these students to continue to excel in Drexel’s academic environment.”
As part of its 2030 Strategic Plan, Drexel has been steadily working to expand access to its educational model through partnerships and pathway programs. Its Drexel Promise program, which offers eligible community college graduates at 50% tuition scholarship has already helped more than 300 students pursue a Drexel education in its first year.
"It's incumbent on Drexel, both as an educational institution and one of the city's civic anchors, to help Philadelphia's students receive the support they need to pursue higher education, Medley said. "We know that due to historic, systemic inequities that translate into socioeconomic obstacles, not every student starts on even footing in their academic career. But through programs like this partnership, we can remove some of the academic and financial barriers that might otherwise deter excellent students from going to college."
If the pilot is successful, Drexel plans to expand this opportunity to other schools in the Philadelphia region. The University has established several transfer partnerships with regional schools and is positioned to continue adding new relationships as part of its strategic plan.