Transfer Scholars Initiative to Launch This Summer

Up to 36 students from New Jersey community colleges will spend eight weeks on Princeton’s campus this summer taking for-credit courses and learning about the transfer process as part of the University’s Transfer Scholars Initiative (TSI) pilot.

According to its website, TSI is designed to support a “talented cohort of students considering transfer to highly selective four-year colleges with excellent completion rates.”

Students will take a course focused on research writing in the humanities and social sciences as well as one of five quantitative courses. They will also attend workshops on the transfer process that cover topics such as how to identify schools that may be a good fit. The scholars will continue to receive support into the fall through meetings with TSI staff.

Princeton has partnered with seven community colleges to launch the program: Camden County College, Hudson County Community College, Mercer County Community College, Middlesex College, Raritan Valley Community College, Rowan College of South Jersey, and Union College.

TSI, which is housed under Princeton’s Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity, is free for all participants and includes a stipend to cover expenses.

According to Michael Hotchkiss, assistant vice president of communications at Princeton, the University “hope[s] to add a residential option next year,” but this summer will be commuter-only. The admission process was nearly complete as of early May, Hotchkiss said.