Reverse Transfer Agreements

Reverse Transfer Agreements create a systematic process to assist students who have transferred to William Paterson University to complete an associate’s degree back at their county college while currently attending William Paterson University. Information is shared in accordance with FERPA and any state and local laws including those of our regional accrediting association, the Middles States Commission on Higher Education.

William Paterson University currently has signed Reverse Transfer Agreements with the following New Jersey community colleges:

• Bergen Community College
• County College of Morris
• Mercer County Community College
• Ocean County College
• Passaic County Community College 
• Raritan Valley Community College
• Sussex County Community College
• Union County College
  
• Warren County Community College

William Paterson University students have the option to consent to Reverse Transfer their credits at the time of application. William Paterson University is a member of the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), which facilitates the reverse transfer process.  As long as the community college participates in Reverse Transfer through the NSC, they can download the course and grade data to evaluate it. If the community college finds that the student has enough appropriate credits for an associate’s degree, they will notify the student in writing.

Each reverse transfer agreement varies since the county college decides how many credits the students must earn there in order to be eligible (the county college’s credit residency requirement). Ultimately, it is the county college that awards the associate’s degree to the student.

Benefits of reverse transfer agreements include:

• First, the number of associate's degree graduates will increase.  
• Second, upon awarding the credential, the college will be able to count the early transfer student as a graduate (completer).  
• Third, the student receives a credential that he/she would not have otherwise received.

For more information on Reverse Transfer, please see the list of contacts below: