Transfer Tea, An AACRAO Podcast

In this season-opening episode of Transfer Tea, I share reflections from the Strategic Enrollment Management Conference and an intro for a new season centered on learning mobility. The episode explores why higher education must continue to adapt as learners face changing policies, costs, and pathways. Listeners are introduced to learning mobility as a way of making sure learning counts—wherever and however it happens. This episode sets the tone for conversations ahead about transfer, credit, policy, and systems designed to help learners move forward, not start over.

Host:

Dr. Loida González Utley

Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Services

Email us at [email protected]

Visit www.aacrao.org

In this episode, we’re joined by a fellow higher education professional who walked the halls of Capitol Hill alongside us during Hill Day. Together, we reflect on why advocacy matters—even when the outcomes aren’t immediate, the process is complex, and our calendars are already full. What keeps us showing up, asking questions, and telling our students’ stories? Let’s unpack it.

Host:

Loida González Utley

Director, Recruitment and Enrollment Services

Texas A&M University–Central Texas

Guest:

Justin Schilke

Deputy Registrar

Rice University

Links:

AACRAO Advocacy: https://www.aacrao.org/advocacy

AACRAO Hill Day: https://www.aacrao.org/events-training/meetings/aacrao-leadership/leadership-group/hill-day

In this special Admit It! and Transfer TEA crossover episode, hosts Alex Fronduto and Loida González Utley sit down to discuss one of the most persistent challenges in higher education—bridging the divide between freshman and transfer admissions. Drawing from national data and institutional experiences, they examine why these two areas often operate in silos, the impact that disconnect has on students, and what innovative models are emerging to close the gap. The conversation explores institutional culture, communication, pathways, and practical strategies for creating a more seamless student experience from recruitment to graduation.

Hosts:

• Loida González Utley
  Director, Recruitment and Enrollment Services
  Texas A&M University–Central Texas
• Dr. Alex Fronduto
  Associate Teaching Professor & Faculty Program Lead, M.Ed in Higher Education Administration
  Graduate School of Education, Northeastern University

In this episode of Transfer Tea, we explore the tension between student responsibility and institutional responsibility when it comes to navigating policies and processes. Inspired by a institutional policy  workshop from Student Ready Strategies, we discuss reactions, lessons learned, and how institutions can rethink policy design to be more student-ready. Tune in as we unpack practical takeaways and challenge ourselves to reflect on who we expect to adapt—students or our systems.

Host:
Loida González Utley
Director, Recruitment and Enrollment Services
Texas A&M University–Central Texas

Guests:
Cassandra Heath
University Registrar
Biola Uiversity

Diana Fyar
Associate Registrar of Transfer and Degree Audit
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
 

Links:

Student Ready Strategies: https://www.studentready.org/

AACRAO: www.aacrao.org

Email us at [email protected]!

In this episode of Transfer Tea, we sit down with Isaiah Vance, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advising & Transfer Initiatives at the Texas A&M University System,  to explore how university systems are driving innovation in transfer. Isaiah shares how NASH is working with institutions across the country to reimagine transfer pathways, scale best practices, and ensure more equitable outcomes for students navigating the higher education pipeline.

Listeners will walk away with:

• Insights into the unique role university systems play in transforming transfer.
• Real-world examples of initiatives advancing transfer student success.
• A broader perspective on how collaboration across campuses and systems can create lasting change.

Host:

Loida González Utley

Director, Recruitment and Enrollment Services

Texas A&M University–Central Texas

Guest:

Isaiah Vance

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Advising & Transfer Initiatives

Texas A&M University System

Links:

AACRAO: www.aacrao.org

NASH: www.nash.edu

The Center for Post Secondary Improvement: https://nash.edu/cpi/

What happens when higher ed systems stop working in silos and start transforming transfer together? In this episode, Juliette Price of the National Association of System Heads (NASH) spills the tea on how Networked Improvement Communities (NICs) are helping universities rethink transfer through collaboration, data, and equity-driven innovation. Tune in to hear how systems across the country are using improvement science to close transfer gaps, amplify student voices, and finally move from talk to action.

Host

Loida González Utley

Director, Recruitment and Enrollment Services
Texas A&M University–Central Texas
[email protected]

Guest

Juliette Price

Senior Improvement Science Coach
National Association of System Heads
[email protected]

Email us at [email protected]!

NASH Website: https://nash.edu/

The NASH Improvement Mode: https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/columns/beyond-transfer/2022/12/21/nash-improvement-model

In "Direct Flight: PTK’s Nonstop Route to Transfer," we explore how Phi Theta Kappa is transforming the transfer landscape with its new direct admissions initiative. By partnering with four-year institutions, PTK is removing application barriers and offering eligible students a streamlined, stress-free path to their next campus. Tune in to learn how this bold move is reshaping opportunity and access for high-achieving community college students across the country.

Host:

Loida González Utley,

Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Services
Texas A&M University- Central Texas
[email protected]

Guest:

Heather Yush

Senior Director of College Relations
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society International
[email protected]

FMI on PTK’s Direct Admission: https://www.ptk.org/youre-in-phi-theta-kappa-leads-national-efforts-to-direct-admissions-for-transfer-students/

Register for #TechTransfer2025 : https://www.aacrao.org/events-training/meetings/technology-transfer-conference

Brew your favorite cup because you do not want to miss this one! In this exciting episode of Transfer Tea, we welcome two incredible transfer champions: Loida Gonzalez Utley and Heather Adams from Transfer Nation!  Together, they spill the tea on everything you can expect at the upcoming AACRAO Technology & Transfer Summit – the must-attend event for anyone passionate about transfer, mobility, and innovation in higher ed.

From bold conversations on AI and equity, to tools that can help institutions better serve transfer students, Loida and Heather give us an insider’s scoop on sessions, networking, and why this summit is a game-changer for transfer professionals everywhere.

*The AACRAO Technology and Transfer 2025: A Learning Mobility Summit will be held IN PERSON at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA (across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.) 

Heather Adams, Ed.D.

Director, Special Initiatives at SOVA

Founder & CEO of Transfer Nation

Loida González Utley

Director of Recruitment & Enrollment Services at A&M- Central Texas

Co-Chair of AACRAO’s Technology and Transfer Summit

Registration Link: https://community.aacrao.org/s/lt-event?id=a1kTP000007Onl7YAC

Research indicates that transfer students often perform as well as, if not better than, their peers who start at four-year institutions. However, misconceptions about the rigor and value of community college education persist. Faculty can challenge these biases by recognizing the strengths transfer students bring and advocating for institutional policies that facilitate credit transfer and academic integration.

By fostering a supportive environment and actively participating in the transfer process, faculty members can help dismantle systemic barriers, ensuring that transfer students are not only admitted but also thrive in their pursuit of a bachelor's degree. This proactive approach is essential for institutions aiming to uphold diversity and equity in a post-affirmative action landscape.

Host:

Loida González Utley

Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Services
Texas A&M University- Central Texas
[email protected]

Guests:

Dr. Celina Benavides 

Tenured Professor of Psychology
Oxnard College
[email protected]

Dr. José Maldonado

Associate Professor
Oxnard College
j[email protected]

Resources:

Harvard Kennedy School Publication: https://studentreview.hks.harvard.edu/disrupting-the-supreme-court-decision-how-universities-can-increase-diversity-in-a-post-affirmative-action-climate/

FMI: www.aacrao.org

Email Transfer Tea at [email protected]

In this episode of Transfer Tea, we explore how automation is transforming transfer articulation in higher education. Joined by members of the AACRAO SPEEDE Committee, we discuss technologies like OCR, XML, and EDI that are streamlining the management of student data and improving processes. Tune in to learn how these innovations are helping institutions enhance efficiency and better serve students.

Host:

Loida González Utley
Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Services
Texas A&M University- Central Texas
[email protected]



Guests:

Patrick Sears
Registrar
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
[email protected]



Matthew Bemis
Sr. Associate University Registrar
University of Southern California
[email protected]



Doug Holmes
Manager, eTranscripts
Ontario Universities’ Application Centre
[email protected]



Resources:

AACRAO SPEEDE Committee: https://www.aacrao.org/people/aacrao-speede-committee

SPEEDE: https://www.speedeserver.org/

Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council (PESC): https://pesc.org/


FMI: www.aacrao.org


Email Transfer Tea at [email protected]