What Does Reverse Transfer Look Like When There is no Funding or Mandate to Support It?

This exploratory study investigated how and to what extent reverse transfer has been implemented in Illinois, a state that did not receive funding as part of the Project Win Win (PWW) or Credit When It’s Due (CWID) initiatives and where there are no statewide policies on reverse transfer. This mixed-methods study drew on survey and interview data from practitioners at two- and four-year postsecondary institutions throughout Illinois engaged in reverse transfer initiatives. While the reverse transfer process was described as moderately effective with a modest number of degrees awarded through the process, most respondents highlighted the positive institutional impact of implementation. There are substantial challenges and costs to implementing reverse transfer programs and building reverse transfer partnerships and practices in the absence of a state mandate or external funding. Subsequently, colleges have been innovative in their approaches to implementation and experienced limitations to scaling.