On May 26th, UMBC welcomed academic leaders and enrollment professionals from Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) and the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) for the Strategic Transfer Excellence Plan (STEP) Convening. Supported by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) and the Aspen Institute, the event brought together partners to align priorities, strengthen collaboration, and advance a shared vision for improving the transfer student experience.

STEP is a student-centered partnership focused on creating seamless pathways from community colleges to UMBC. Through the initiative, the partner institutions are working together to identify and remove unnecessary barriers to transfer, reduce time to degree, and increase bachelor's degree attainment for community college students. The partnership has committed to five shared goals:  expanding transfer enrollment from AACC and CSM, improving first-year success, increasing graduation rates for community college transfer students, reducing equity gaps in student completion, and strengthening STEM pathways.

The convening was centered on laying the foundation for the next phase of the work through discussions on governance, accountability, stakeholder engagement, communication strategies, and the resources needed to support long-term implementation. Participants represented a broad cross-section of the transfer experience, including deans, faculty, and leaders from admissions, advising, financial aid, the registrar, institutional research, information technology, orientation, student success, and student affairs.

Student voices grounded those conversations in lived experience. They highlighted the different pathways students take to UMBC and the opportunities institutions have to better support them along the way.

Zoha Waleed and Joaquin Seminario, AACC students who presented research through UMBC's inaugural URCAD Partners program, shared how participating in undergraduate research before transferring helped them see themselves as part of the UMBC community and inspired them to consider pursuing PhDs.

Laura Comey, who participated in dual enrollment at CSM before enrolling at UMBC as a first-year student, reflected on the lasting impact of her community college experience.

"Looking back, CSM was not just the place where I earned college credits. It was the place where I learned how to be a college student. It was where I learned how to advocate for myself, how to ask for help, how to lead, and how to imagine a bigger future for myself."

Markala Pharr, who transferred from CSM to UMBC, shared how delays in credit evaluation affected her first semester.

"Since I also had to wait for certain courses to be reevaluated during my first semester, my options for classes were limited."

Together, the students reinforced a central theme of the convening: transfer students bring resilience, experience, and valuable perspectives to their institutions, and their success depends on intentional, coordinated systems that make navigating the transfer process as seamless as possible.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) and the Aspen Institute, also in attendance recognized the partnership's commitment to expanding opportunity, noting its excitement about the life-changing impact the initiative can have for students across the region through UMBC's efforts to expand access and invest in transfer student success.

This summer, STEP enters Phase 2 of the Maryland Transfer Initiative, with work focused on stakeholder engagement and governance, shared vision alignment, resource alignment, and strengthening data and institutional infrastructure. As executive leadership across all three institutions continues to guide the partnership, STEP will serve as the framework for advancing coordinated action that improves outcomes for current and future transfer students.

When Essence Jones '29 applied to UMBC, she carried big ambitions—but also the weight of financial uncertainty. That changed when she was awarded UMBC’s Best of Baltimore Grant, a Baltimore City initiative, which is a last-dollar award to cover remaining direct educational costs.

With this comprehensive support behind her, the financial barriers that once shaped every decision suddenly lifted. For the first time, she could focus on her education, research, and community involvement without the pressure of juggling multiple jobs or searching endlessly for funding.

A New Academic Freedom

The grant opened doors that Essence once viewed from a distance.

Freed from financial stress, she found herself able to explore new academic paths and research opportunities with confidence.

It even inspired her to think globally. During the pandemic, Essence became curious about international scientific collaboration—curiosity that grew into a potential plan to study abroad in South Korea. What once felt out of reach now feels possible.

Alongside the grant, the College Completion Program supports her, ensuring she stays on track for graduation and reinforcing the commitment to supporting students from start to finish.

Finding Community and Belonging

Beyond academics, the Baltimore City initiative has helped to shape Essence's sense of belonging on campus.

She joined Black Women in Medicine, where she found mentorship, community, and connection. Her Resident Assistant (RA) also became a key support system, helping her navigate campus life and feel at home at UMBC.

These experiences—made possible because she had the stability to be fully present—have helped her build strong relationships and a network of encouragement.

Her Perspective: Gratitude and Growth

For Essence, the impact of the Best of Baltimore Grant is deeply personal. She describes it as meaningful: a source of relief that shifted her focus from "How will I afford this?" to "What do I want to accomplish?"

To those who made this funding possible she offers a simple, powerful message:

"Thank you for seeing me — and for giving me the opportunity to attend and pursue what I truly want."

Without the grant, she says, she would still be scrambling—applying for scholarships, piecing together resources, and balancing financial uncertainty. Instead, she now moves through UMBC with confidence, fully immersed in her studies, her community, and her plans for the future.