Major efforts support community college transfers

When Ivan Carrillo transferred from a local community college to study at UC Davis, he doubted his ability to make the grade and, at first, he had difficulty making friends.

Since then, the Elk Grove resident has led the student body government, earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and been named the top male graduate in the 2009 class.

As broader efforts are made to increase the number of California community college students who, like Carrillo, go on to earn a degree from a four-year university, the campus is taking major steps to recruit transfer students and support their successful graduation.

“Transfer shock is the biggest issue many transfer students face,” said Phil Knox, assistant director of Advising Services.