March 24, 2021
East Texas Baptist University was recently named to Phi Theta Kappa’s 2021 Transfer Honor Roll. Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), an honor society for two-year colleges, recognizes the importance of institutional commitment and investment of resources to support transfer students. The PTK Transfer Honor Roll acknowledges excellence and success in transfer pathway development.
“The ETBU Transfer Admissions Team intentionally seeks PTK members from local community colleges because they add marked value to the student body as scholars and servants in the classroom and community,” ETBU Vice President for Enrollment Jeremy Johnston said. “Phi Theta Kappa is built on four pillars – service, scholarship, leadership, and fellowship. As we see PTK students practice these qualities at their previous institutions, we are confident they will transition well as ETBU Tigers and become influential Christian servant leaders on our campus.”
East Texas Baptist connects with transfer students in a variety of ways including the Tiger Transfer Track Program, which allows students to seamlessly transfer from more than 10 regional junior colleges to ETBU to complete their bachelor’s degree. The University also utilizes PTK Connect, a platform for prospective students, which provides information about admissions practices, cost of attendance, campus life, recruitment practices, and peer reviews.
“The Transfer Honor Roll reflects the growing importance of recognizing and responding to the needs of transfer students,” Phi Theta Kappa President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner said. “This award is given to four-year colleges and universities with proven outcomes for transfer success. They are the best at providing a supportive and smooth transition from community college — equating to increased rates of bachelor’s degree attainment for transfer students.”
The Transfer Profile is meant to reflect what the transfer student experience is like at each college, as well as the strategies colleges are implementing to support and enroll transfer students. This tool provides thousands of prospective students with relevant data to inform their transfer decisions. PTK members have a 72 percent transfer rate, compared to the 29 percent rate of traditional community college students. To help ease the transition to a four-year university, ETBU offers an $11,000 scholarship each year to every Phi Theta Kappa transfer student.
“I decided to transfer to ETBU because I wanted to grow in my faith as well as my academics, and the transfer counselors were extremely helpful throughout the process,” ETBU junior psychology major Alison Earnhart said. “Being a member of Phi Theta Kappa has helped me tremendously. Not only has it provided a generous scholarship, but I have the skills to succeed in my classes and a whole network of people that I can reach out to. I’m still in contact with my chapter advisor, and she’s been a great listening ear and mentor. Phi Theta Kappa taught me how to lead and serve others, and I know I wouldn’t be who I am without the organization and my chapter.”
East Texas Baptist was one of only 151 colleges and universities named to the 2021 Transfer Honor Roll. Colleges were selected based on their Transfer Friendliness Rating, which is determined by the Transfer Profile they create in PTK Connect.
“ETBU recruits transfer students by building and maintaining relationships with community college transfer specialists, Baptist Student Ministry directors, and Phi Theta Kappa advisors,” ETBU Transfer Admissions Counselor Alex Dorman said. “These individuals are a huge asset to what we do. They are a voice for our University and our relationship with them is a reflection of what ETBU stands for. It is so encouraging to know that what we are doing matters. To be recognized by the PTK Honor Roll means that we are making a difference and will hopefully reach more students who are wanting to pursue their calling at ETBU.”